SEOUL, April 3 (Reuters) - North Korea, which has been launching verbal assaults for the past week against the South, on Thursday accused Seoul of sending warships into its territorial waters.

"The South Korean military's warmongers have sent three battleships deep into our territorial waters in the West Sea (Yellow Sea) at around 11:45 am (0245 GMT) on April 3," the communist state's KCNA news agency said.

"South Korea's military should clearly bear in mind that an unexpected countermeasure will follow if they continue to push battleships into (our waters) and raise tensions," it said, demanding the South Korea investigate the incursion and punish those responsible.

South Korean military officials were not immediately available for comment. (Reporting by Yoo Choonsik; Writing by Jonathan Thatcher; Editing by Alex Richardson)

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