South Korean civic groups will push ahead with their plans to visit North Korea, despite the government’s disapproval.

On Thursday, part of the South Korean committee responsible for implementing the June 15, 2000 inter-Korean summit declaration decided to visit the North from August 14th to 18th. The group is scheduled to meet with its North Korean counterpart in the North's city of Gaeseong.

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions also decided on Thursday to continue with its plan to visit the North on August tenth.

Meanwhile, the two aforementioned groups, the Democratic Labor Party and the Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union will hold a news conference and a rally on Friday. The gathering will congregate in front of the government complex in downtown Seoul to protest the government’s plan to forbid their visits to North Korea.