Pyongyang is temporarily blocking regular visits to the North by South Korean civic organizations that support humanitarian and social projects in the Stalinist state.

South Korean civic groups said Thursday that Pyongyang had recently sent a letter stating that South Korean civic groups will have to put off their scheduled visits to the North due to an unexpected internal situation. No specific reasons were given for the delay.

South Korean civic groups that regularly visit the North were reportedly unable to get entry permits from North Korean consulates in China from Wednesday. The groups normally travel to the North via Beijing and Shenyang, where Pyongyang's consulates issue entry permits.

The North's move to block civic groups' visits comes after its Committee for the Peaceful Unification of the Fatherland denounced Seoul for rejecting a proposal from South Korean civic activists last month who wanted to attend the 10th anniversary of the death of Kim Il-sung, the founder of North Korea. Seoul stated that such a visit could cause controversy and ultimately have a negative impact on inter-Korean relations.