Progressive civic groups and business leaders have urged the South Korean government to lift sanctions on North Korea.
 
The organizations and businesspeople, who work on inter-Korean economic projects, made the call on Sunday at a news conference in front of the government complex in downtown Seoul.
 
They urged the government to lift the May 24 measures and approve inter-Korean events organized by civic groups to improve cross-border relations and resume inter-Korean exchanges.
 
They claimed the May 24 measures, which were imposed after the North sank a South Korean warship in 2010, have had little effect on the North’s economy due to the influence of China and Russia.