South Korea voiced regret Thursday over North Korea's threat of military retaliation a day earlier, warning Seoul will sternly respond to any military provocations by the regime.

The remarks by a unification ministry official came after North Korea's committee dealing with inter-Korean affairs threatened military action Wednesday.

In a special statement released by the Korean Central News Agency, the Peaceful Reunification of Korea said that "The South Korean authorities will not be able to escape the most miserable end if they persistently join the U.S. moves for a war of aggression aimed to disturb peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and stifle (North Korea)."

If Seoul continues to do so, it "will also be the target of our retaliatory strikes," it said, apparently referring to upcoming joint military exercises between Seoul and Washington.

The ministry official said South Korea expresses regret over North Korea's behavior of repeating its distorted and threatening remarks while failing to accept Seoul's offer to discuss any kind of inter-Korean issues openly.

"We demand North Korea immediately stop their military threats toward the same ethnicity and make it clear once again that we will sternly react to any provocations by the North," the official said on condition of anonymity.

The official rejected the North's accusation of Seoul tiptoeing the U.S., adding that "The government will continue to maintain its cooperative posture with the international community including the U.S. over North Korean issues while extending its efforts to improve inter-Korean relations."

The official also called on the North again to accept the weeks-long offer of dialogue as the North has remained mum on the proposal issued in late December.

Commenting on the regime's recent rejection of South Korea's humanitarian assistance of powdered milk, the official also noted that "Apart from political conditions (between the countries), the government is planning to continue its humanitarian aid, which could help North Korean people." (Yonhap)