North Korean soldiers scouted the inter-Korean border a day before the North released millions of tonnes of water from a dam, killing six South Koreans, news reports said Saturday.
Military officials have told legislators that about 10 North Korean soldiers left their observation post and came south close to the military demarcation line dividing the two countries, Yonhap news agency said.
"They reconnoitred the area for about two hours before they returned to the North," a lawmaker told Yonhap.
The North on Sunday discharged millions of tonnes of water from a dam into a cross-border river, which killed six South Koreans camping downstream.
The incident has stirred anger in the South and threatens to damage relations which had lately been improving after more than a year of hostility.
A company of South Korean troops was at that time camping on the riverside as part of a field drill and a tank was submerged in the flash flood.
"The North might have released the dam water in order to cause troubles for the South Korean military troops," the lawmaker said.
The move might also be aimed at hampering construction work downstream in the South to build a dam, he said, adding military authorities were checking whether the reconnaissance was linked to the flash flood.
North Korea has yet to respond to the South's call for an apology. On Monday it blamed a sudden surge in the dam's water level for the "emergency" release and promised to give prior warning of future discharges.
But officials here said there had been no heavy rain in the North in recent days to explain the need for a release of water.
Seoul said 40 million cubic metres (52 million cubic yards) of water was released from the Hwanggang Dam into the Imjin river, which flows down into South Korea before reaching the Yellow Sea.
Unification Minister Hyun In-Taek told parliament Wednesday the discharge was intentional but the motive was still being studied.
Seoul has raised fears in the past of a "water attack" from Pyongyang.
The incident follows several peace overtures from the North last month. It freed five South Korean detainees, eased border curbs, sent envoys for talks with President Lee Myung-Bak and proposed a new round of family reunions.
The unification ministry said it hoped the reunions, of relatives divided since the 1950-1953 war, would go ahead late this month despite the flood.
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