North Korea has turned down South Korea’s proposal to hold a joint event marking the anniversary of the end of Japan’s colonial rule on the Korean Peninsula.

The South Korean Committee for the Joint Implementation of the June 15th Summit Declaration announced on Wednesday that its North Korean counterpart delivered the refusal via fax last Friday.

An official from the civic group said the North Korean committee explained the two sides have no choice but to hold separate events to commemorate August 15 Independence Day, given the current situation.

The official said the North claimed it would be difficult to arrange an inter-Korean event since the U.S. is threatening a preemptive attack, while the South is maintaining sanctions on the North.

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