North Korea threatened to pull out of the world university games and demanded a full apology from South Korea after an anti-North demonstration turned violent Sunday.

An unidentified North Korean reporter, center, scuffles with South Korean protesters as he tries to stop an anti-North Korea rally by South Korean human rights activists in Daegu, south of Seoul, Aug 24, 2003. North Korean reporters are in Daegu for the coverage of the 22nd Universiade Games, in which Pyongyang athletes are taking part. [AP]

The disturbance came just days before a crucial meeting in Beijing, where diplomats from North and South Korea, the United States, China, Russia and Japan will discuss the North's nuclear weapons program.

Fighting erupted at the games in the South Korean city of Taegu after four North Korean journalists confronted a dozen activists protesting human rights abuses in the North outside the main media center.

"We will have little choice but to reconsider our participation in the games if these kinds of anti-North Korean protests continue," North Korean delegation chief Jeon Kuk-man told reporters.

"We demand that the South Koreans apologize and properly punish those responsible. They must also guarantee that such incidents will not occur again."

More than 100 riot police battled to restore order after North Korean delegates confronted demonstrators waving banners denouncing the North's leader, Kim Jong-il, and pictures of starving North Korean babies. At least one protester was hurt.

"RECKLESS ACT"

North Korea had initially threatened to boycott the games after demonstrations in Seoul, where activists burned the North Korean flag and a poster of Kim Jong-il.

Pyongyang only climbed down after accepting an apology from South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun.

Athletes from both countries marched together behind a flag showing a borderless Korea at Thursday's opening ceremony.

The North Korean delegation head told a news conference the demonstration was a "major obstacle to the development of inter-Korean relations."

"It was a reckless act in broad daylight and a disgrace to both Koreas," said Jeon.

"The South Korean authorities did not even attempt to break up the protest. They mobilized the police to protect them.

"It is obvious that we cannot participate in the games if the event is turning into a confrontation between (North Korea) and South Korea."

Protest organizer Norbert Vollertsen, a German doctor who spent over a year in North Korea as an aid worker, was injured in the melee which underlined heightened inter-Korean tension since the United States said last year Pyongyang had admitted to developing nuclear weapons.

North and South Korea were divided in 1945 and have shared a heavily fortified border since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a cease-fire, leaving the countries still technically at war.

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