The Unification Ministry says it will turn down a local civic group's request to attend a meeting with their counterparts from North Korea and overseas in China next week.

The South Korean Committee for the Joint Implementation of the June 15th Summit Declaration said it is planning to attend the meeting in Shenyang from next Tuesday to Wednesday and requested permission from the ministry last week.
 
A ministry official said Tuesday that it is inappropriate to hold private inter-Korean contact amid tensions. 
 
However, a committee member said that the committee will attend the meeting even if its request is refused.
 
At the upcoming meeting, the committees are expected to discuss organizing a football match between South and North Korean laborers and devise ways to promote private exchanges.

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