N. Korea not responding to Seoul's proposal for joint celebration of March 1 Independence Movement

SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has yet to respond to Seoul's proposal to hold a joint celebration to mark the centennial of the March 1 Independence Movement against Japan's colonial rule, a unification ministry official said Thursday.

Seoul earlier proposed its own plans apparently, including a venue and detailed programs to North Korea, in a follow-up to an agreement between their leaders in September to jointly celebrate the anniversary of the March 1, 1919, movement against Japan, which ruled the Korean Peninsula from 1910-1945.

"There has been no answer from North Korea in response to our proposal," the official told a group of reporters, saying the event, if held, will likely be a smaller-than-expected one, given that the day is just two weeks away.

Asked if there is a possibility that the two might not be able to hold the event as agreed, he said it is not appropriate to comment on it at this point.

The Koreas will likely discuss the issue during a joint liaison office meeting to be held in the North's border town of Kaesong on Friday, he added.

kokobj@yna.co.kr
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