A South Korean civic group has called for inter-Korean talks to discuss details of planned joint events to mark the 15th anniversary of the landmark June 15 inter-Korean declaration and the 70th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan's colonial rule.
 
The South Korean committee for the implementation of the June 15 declaration said on Sunday that it proposed to its North Korean counterpart on Thursday that the two sides hold a two-day meeting starting Tuesday in the North Korean city of Gaeseong to discuss the details of the events.
 
South Korean preparatory committee spokesman Lee Seung-hwan said that the two sides could narrow their differences through dialogue for the venue that will host the celebrations for Korea’s independence from Japan’s colonial rule.
 
The North Korean committee on Saturday claimed that the two sides had agreed to hold the events to mark the June 15 declaration in Seoul and to hold celebrations for Korea's independence in Pyongyang in August, but South Korea recently demanded the two venues be switched or both celebrations should take place in Seoul.
 
North Korea strongly accused South Korea of trying to change the venue, threatening that both of the joint events could be cancelled.