A South Korean progressive group on Tuesday urged the government not to block an opportunity to engage North Korea in talks aimed at allowing a joint event to mark the 13th anniversary of the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration.
   
The Committee for the Joint Implementation of the June 15 Summit Declaration in South Korea criticized the government for banning the joint celebration at a press conference in downtown Seoul.
   
The historic declaration reached at the 2000 summit meeting between late South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il kicked off a period of rapprochement between the two countries that saw large scale bilateral cooperation and the expansion of economic ties.
   
"Seoul took steps to prevent important talks from taking place," it claimed. "Both South and North Korean authorities need to take steps that can pave the way for the gathering."
  
The government on Monday effectively barred South Koreans from taking part in the gathering set for next month.
   
The committee said that it plans to contact the North to get firm confirmation on its plans to host the event, and then persuade the Seoul government, which must approve all visits to the North.

The committee's northern counterpart had sent invitations to various progressive and liberal groups last Thursday.
   
It said a fax message had been sent to the North calling for administrative talks to work out details of a joint gathering.
   
"In the message sent, we also pointed out to the North, that in order for South Koreans to cross over the border and receive assurances related to safe return, the two governments must hold separate working level talks," said Lee Seung-hwan, head of the committee's event preparation team.
   
He added that the organization had respectfully urged the North to come to working level talks.
   
Despite moves by the group, Seoul's Ministry of Unification reiterated for the second day that it will not allow the North to stage a "political gathering" that can fuel internal discord within South Korea.
   
"The North has persistently ignored calls for government-level talks that can resolve all outstanding issues and has only focused on contacting private organizations," a ministry official, who declined to be identified, said. He said since the North said it wants dialogue, all it has to do is come to the official
negotiating table to sort out differences.
   
Seoul has made clear that in order for South Koreans to cross over to the North, emergency hotlines severed by Pyongyang must be reconnected in advance. (Yonhap News)