Officials from a South Korean civic group met their North Korean counterparts in Shenyang Friday to discuss how to hold a joint summit anniversary event despite Seoul's opposition, the group said.

The South's group held a meeting with North Koreans in China earlier in the day to discuss inter-Korean exchanges and the preparation of a possible joint event to mark the historic inter-Korean summit in 2000.

Seoul's unification ministry earlier rejected the group's request for approval of its plan to meet with North Koreans on Friday and Saturday, citing the grave situation following Pyongyang's nuke and missile tests earlier in the year.

South Korea has suspended almost all inter-Korean civilian exchanges and is not allowing South Koreans to visit North Korea.

The preparatory groups of the two Koreas plan to unveil a joint statement later in the day which would stress the need to resume exchanges and reconciliation between both sides.

The ministry warned that it will impose punitive actions against citizens who make unauthorized contact with North Koreans.

"It is not proper to pursue inter-Korean civilian exchanges at a time when North Korea is conducting nuclear and missile provocations," a ministry official said on Thursday.

The South's civic group expressed regret over Seoul's decision, saying that inter-Korean civilian exchanges should be dealt with apart from international sanctions on the North.

South Korean nationals need Seoul's approval as well as the North's consent for a trip to the communist nation.

The two Koreas are still technically at war since the 1950-53 Korean conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. (Yonhap)