By
New Worker correspondent
ACTIVISTS from the UK Korean Friendship
Association gathered in central London last Saturday for its annual general
meeting to chart the way forward in developing friendship and solidarity with
the Korean people for the coming year.
KFA Official
Delegate Dermot Hudson pointed out that the month of June will see a number of
major anniversaries in the history of the Korean people, and announced that
June is a month of solidarity with the DPRK.
Dermot recalled
the great developments in the DPRK over the past year, saying “pride of place
should go to the launch of the Kwangmysong 3-2 satellite on the 12th December 2012 and the third DPRK nuclear test
on the 12th February this year,” and spoke of cultural developments
in the DPRK, including the appearance of the all-female Moranbong rock group,
new leisure and health facilities such as the Rungna People's Pleasure Park and
the Ryugyong Health Complex, the construction of magnificent new housing at
Changjon Street in central Pyongyang, and the ongoing construction of a giant
ski resort at Masik.
“However in the
past year we have witnessed attempts by the DPRK's enemies, chiefly the Yankee
imperialists,” he added, “to impede and slow down its development. We have seen
several rounds of sanctions by the so-called UN Security Council, a marionette
of the US, along with additional sanctions by the US, Japan, the EU and the UK.
“In March and
April the US imperialists along with the south Korean puppets carried out
extensive military exercises to coincide with the imposition of sanctions.
These war exercises were participated in by the UK as well as Canada, Denmark
and Colombia, involving B2 and B52 nuclear-armed bombers. The DPRK gave a
strong response to these provocations, which upset some but nevertheless dealt
a blow to the US imperialists and defended the dignity and honour of the DPRK,
as well its independence and Korean-style socialism.
“During the past
year the UK KFA has stood by the DPRK. We have issued numerous statements in
support of the DPRK as well as writing to the Foreign Secretary, MPs and
Ministers .We have picketed the US embassy and will be picketing in again in 10
days’ time.
“We have taken the lead in establishing
the "International Committee for the Release of Mr Ro Su Hui. We have
combatted anti-DPRK propaganda on a weekly, and sometimes on a daily basis.
“We have also
issued a number of editions of our excellent publication: People's Korea Today, and will shortly issue another one.
“During the past
year the UK KFA has stood by the DPRK. We have issued numerous statements in
support of the DPRK as well as writing to the Foreign Secretary, MPs and
Ministers. We have picketed the US embassy and will be picketing in again in 10
days’ time.
“UK KFA
membership has increased, and our UK KFA Facebook page has 281 likes. However
this needs to be translated into attendance at meetings and campaigning
activity.
Nevertheless the UK KFA is proud that we
are defending the DPRK almost every day. Let’s carry on with this splendid work.”
Theo Russell,
KFA member and member of the Central Committee of the New Communist Party, also
addressed the meeting on the topic of south Korea’s turbulent history, which
has effectively been hidden away by the western media, historians and in school
history teaching.
Other supporters
denounced the hostile media coverage of the DPRK, particularly the ludicrous
Panorama documentary North Korea
Undercover.
Proposals
discussed at the meeting included stepping up the campaign for the release of
peace activist Ro Su Hui, with a poster and a leaflet exposing the south Korean
National Security Law, and a campaign against the economic sanctions imposed on
the DPRK linked to the demand for the US to negotiate a permanent peace treaty
and political settlement on the peninsula.
Discussions were
held on public transport, culture, health services, housing and other aspects
of the DPRK, and literature from the DPRK and the KFA was on display.
