Non-governmental organizations from the two Koreas will hold a ceremony next month to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the June 15 Joint Declaration.
 
A government source said Thursday that preparatory committees from the two countries agreed in Shenyang, China Thursday to hold the event in mid-June.
 
An official from the South Korean committee told KBS Thursday that negotiations were strenuous as the North had doubts about the location.
 
The two sides are also known to have discussed holding a ceremony to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan. 

Earlier, the Unification Ministry had said it will broadly permit civic groups and local governments to seek inter-Korean exchanges as the two Koreas mark the 70th anniversary of liberation from Japanese colonial rule. It will also pursue joint projects with North Korean authorities in culture, history and sports.