North Korea has rejected South Korea's call to apologize for the deadly sinking of its warship in 2010.
In a statement Tuesday, North Korea's top military body denied its role in the 2010 March 26 incident.
A statement by National Defense Commission, published by North's state-run KCNA news agency, said "The South should clearly understand that its sophism that 'apology' and 'expression of regret' have to precede the lifting of the 'step' can never work."
It described Seoul's allegation that North Korea sank the ship as a cooked up story.
South Korea suspended commercial relations with the North and demanded an official apology from Pyongyang for the sinking of its naval ship Cheonan, which killed 46 sailors.
A joint investigation by U.S., British, Australian and Swedish experts concluded that the ship was hit by a torpedo, probably originating from North Korea.
Pyongyang denied the charges, and announced that it was severing all relations with South Korea and cutting communications links.
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