All the Friday events were cancelled at a joint celebration marking the seventh anniversary of the historic inter-Korean summit as the North side prevented a lawmaker of the main opposition Grand National Party from entering the VIP seat line, the joint press corps reported.
North Korean officials blocked two-term GNP lawmaker Park Kye-dong's entry into the VIP seats of the People's Palace of Culture where a "gathering of unity" with representatives from the two Koreas was planned.
South Korea's chief delegate Paik Nak-chun made it clear that he could not accept the exclusion of Park from the VIP line, originally planned.
"We are of the position that no South Korean delegate will take part in an event that blocks the GNP lawmaker to the VIP seat," said a spokesman. He added that because no compromise was reached all afternoon, events were cancelled.
The four-day event is held annually to commemorate the June 2000 summit between the leaders of the two Koreas
1 | S. Korea flexes military might in rare parade with US in central Seoul |
![[INTERVIEW] Wellington mayor's love for Korean culture spurs collaboration](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/6fcc82645abc473980e0e10997ef2bf9.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] ONEUS returns as 'mermaid prince'](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/8cc3b8d992cd4b8bb43395b014670ca2.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] With '30 Days,' Kang Ha-neul finds new level of comfort in acting](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/83a5770de8d8420da3634fb8b78266c1.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
