A group of South Korean businessmen involved in inter-Korean economic cooperation called on the government Thursday to lift its sanctions on North Korea in order to help ease their hardships.

Seoul imposed the so-called May 24th Measure on Pyongyang in 2010 for its deadly attack on a South Korean warship that left 46 sailors dead, suspending almost all inter-Korean economic projects except for the Kaesong Industrial Complex.

In a rally held in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, the businessmen claimed they have suffered so much pain due to the sanctions over the past years.

"The government should immediately lift the May 24th Measure and resume the tours of Mount Kumgang," they said in a statement. 

More than 20 representatives from related groups participated in the demonstration.

They also urged the government to officially block the activists-led spread of anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border, claiming "it has completely dashed their hopes."

The North has boycotted the agreed-upon high-level talks with the South, taking issue with the leaflet campaign.

The two Koreas should return to the bargaining table without attaching any precondition, they said. (Yonhap)