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North Korea has rejected South Korean calls for an apology over the sinking of a warship, calling it an "intolerable mockery," the BBC reported.

The move comes as South Korea prepares to mark five years since the Cheonan went down on 26 March 2010 with the loss of 46 lives.

Seoul says Pyongyang torpedoed the ship, but North Korea rejects this.

South Korea cut almost all trade after the sinking - restrictions which remain in place today.

The measures effectively block all inter-Korean economic projects bar production at the joint Kaesong industrial zone.

Seoul says they will only be lifted after an apology is issued for the sinking.

"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," a statement from North Korea's top military body carried by KCNA news agency said.

It described the theory that North Korea sank the ship as "fictitious."