The Korean delegation to the Winter Asian Games in Changchun, China has officially expressed regret over a protest by South Korean athletes of Chinese claims to Mount Baekdu.

Five South Korean female short track skaters raised signs reading "Mount Baekdu is our territory" during an awards ceremony after winning the silver in the five-thousand-meter relay on Wednesday.

The delegation headed by Bae Chang-hwan sent a letter to the games' organizing committee and the Olympic Council of Asia downplaying the incident as an impromptu act by the athletes and denying any political intent. He promised that there would be no recurrence.

Bae said in the letter that players and staff were advised against staging similar actions and asked for China's understanding. He also wished Changchun authorities success in their hosting of the games.

Mount Baekdu, which sits on the Sino-North Korean border, has been the focus of a territorial dispute after China took steps to claim the mountain.

Beijing protested the incident to Seoul on Thursday.