DPRK Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement

The 50th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice Agreement to end the Korean War was celebrated on the evening of July 27 in Pyongyang, the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, with a spectacular gala that vividly demonstrated the people's tremendous pride in their country. The entire expanse of the vast Kim Il Sung Square was filled with a sparkling array of tens of thousands of jubilant performers who created a brilliant sight under the night sky, particularly the women, with their brightly-coloured traditional dresses. The mass display of co-ordinated movements, shimmering fans and waving ribbons continued for hours while rousing patriotic music filled the air, spotlights illuminated the festivities and fireworks burst forth in the sky. The joyous event left a distinct impression on the diplomatic personnel and international guests who were present, many of whom left the reviewing stand to join the dancers in the square.

For days, the streets of Pyongyang and other cities and towns had been adorned with signs reading "7.27," referring to July 27, 1953, the historic day when the U.S. army was compelled to sign a truce and cease its military aggression against the DPRK. The U.S. had prepared and instigated the Korean War in June 1950 with the aim of crushing the young DPRK and robbing its people of their chosen form of government so as to take over the whole of Korea. First the U.S. split Korea in two by establishing the Republic of Korea. Then, under the false banner of defending one country against an attack by another, the U.S. in reality waged a savage, genocidal war of annihilation against the DPRK by means of a continual, devastating bombardment and the widespread use of biological and chemical weapons. The heroic, self-sacrificing resistance of the Korean People's Army inflicted heavy losses on the invading U.S. forces and eventually forced them to retreat behind the original demarcation line. The DPRK survived, despite the onslaught, and has now progressed through 50 years of peaceful development. In the current situation, where the U.S. is again weighing its military "options," the people of the DPRK are determined to defend the sovereignty of their country. They have learned from the Korean War and from the history of other nations that a strong, physical deterrent is necessary to prevent another aggressive war and to guarantee peace on the Korean peninsula.

South Koreans demonstrate on July 26 near the Demilitarized Zone, which divides north and south Korea at the 38th parallel, demanding peace and reunification on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice Agreement which ended the Korean War on July 27, 1953.

International Conference for Peace on the Korean Peninsula End the Hostile U.S. Policy Against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea!

The International Conference for Peace on the Korean Peninsula was successfully held in Pyongyang from July 23 to 25 with the aim of developing solidarity with the struggle of the people of the DPRK in defence of their country's sovereignty in the face of the growing threat of war by the U.S. The conference was attended by delegates from 26 countries representing a wide range of anti-war groups, political organizations and committees of solidarity with the Korean people. Among the delegates were leading representatives of international organizations of workers, youth, women, physicians and lawyers. Lorne Gershuny, a Toronto lawyer and political activist, attended the conference as a delegate from Canada representing the People's Front and the Korea Truth Commission (Canadian Chapter).

Throughout the proceedings of the conference, the participants showed themselves to be strongly committed to making a contribution to the cause of peace in Korea and in the world. The presentations expressed profound solidarity with the Korean people's aspirations for national reunification and firm support for the right of the DPRK to defend its sovereignty in the face of the growing threat of an attack by the U.S. Historical facts were presented which showed convincingly that the U.S. has posed the real nuclear threat to Korea for decades while the DPRK has repeatedly made reasonable proposals to resolve the issue peacefully.

Within the framework of the conference, the Pyongyang International Tribunal was held to bring to light the crimes committed against the Korean people by the U.S. during the Korean War and in the period since that time. An indictment was presented that enumerated their numerous violations of international laws and conventions enacted for the protection of peace and human rights. The Tribunal heard testimony from victims and survivors of civilian massacres carried out by U.S. forces and from experts on the use of biological weapons by the U.S. during the Korean War. The participants in the Tribunal travelled to Sinchon County, South Hwanghae Province, to listen to witnesses and visit the sites of terrible massacres committed by U.S. forces during their occupation of the region in late 1950. The panel of distinguished judges on the Tribunal found the U.S. government and its military administration guilty of many grave violations of the international conventions governing crimes against human peace and security. The conference participants decided to bring the verdict of the Tribunal before the international community by referring it to the United Nations Human Rights Commission.

As a conclusion to the discussions, the conference delegates adopted a resolution expressing their firm determination to make all possible efforts to prevent another war and ensure durable peace on the Korean peninsula. The conference resolved, first, to urge the U.S. to withdraw its hostile policy towards the DPRK and seek a peaceful solution of the Korean issue; second, to expose to the world community the crimes committed by the U.S. against the Korean people and to urge the U.S. to make a full apology and compensation; third, to demand immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from south Korea; and fourth, to support the cause of the Korean people for peace on the Korean peninsula and for the independent reunification of their nation.

The participants in the conference also sent a letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations urging him not to allow the UN to be used by the U.S. to put international pressure on the DPRK and a letter to the U.S. Congress expressing the hope that the Bush administration would make a positive response to peaceful negotiation with the DPRK. There was also an Appeal to the World's Peace-Loving People calling for a worldwide protest movement against the warlike policy of the U.S. and for unity between the Korean people and the world's peoples to advance the cause of a just and peaceful world.

Resolution - Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, July 25, 2003 -

Today the Korean people auspiciously celebrate with great national pride the 50th anniversary of the great victory in the righteous Fatherland Liberation War forced upon them in the 1950s by the United States and its allied nations.

Today when half a century has passed since the cease-fire, however, a dangerous situation prevails on the Korean peninsula, which would result in the outbreak of the "second Korean war."

The present confrontation on the Korean peninsula and the international circumstances around it is very grave, drawing the deep concern of peace- and justice-loving people throughout the world.

If another war breaks out in Korea, it will inevitably plunge into an unheard-of nuclear holocaust and catastrophically affect peace and security on the Korean peninsula but also in the rest of the world.

Under these circumstances, the representatives of different international democratic organizations, anti-war peace organizations, as well as of friendship and solidarity organizations for the Korean people held the international conference for peace on the Korean peninsula in Pyongyang, capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and discussed the pressing issues concerning the peaceful solution of the Korean issue.

Emphasizing the necessity to draw the special attention of the international community to the grave situation now prevailing on the Korean peninsula; and

Expressing our firm determination to make all possible efforts to prevent another war and ensure durable peace on the Korean peninsula;

We make the following resolution:

First, we will launch more dynamic activities throughout the world to urge the United States to withdraw its high-handed and arbitrary hostile policy towards the DPRK and seek a peaceful solution of the Korean issue.

The touch-and-go situation on the Korean peninsula is wholly due to the hostile policy of the United States to stifle the DPRK by means of force.

The half-a-century-long history clearly proves that peace and stability will never come to the Korean peninsula so long as there exists the political and military threat by the United States upon the DPRK.

The "threat from Korea" clamoured by the United States is the climax of the arrogant U.S. mode of thinking that any nation which stands in the way of the realization of its hegemonic strategy is its enemy. It is also a preposterous sophism to justify its policy to stifle the DPRK.

The international community should no longer allow the prevalence of brigandish power doctrine that power is immediately justice.

Conscious of our noble responsibility for human justice and world peace, we will strongly press the Bush administration to heed the catastrophic consequences of the DPRK-U.S. confrontation, make an immediate positive answer to the DPRK-U.S. negotiations for the peaceful solution of the Korean issue and withdraw its unreasonable hostile policy towards the DPRK.

At the same time, we will categorically reject the manoeuvers of the Japanese authorities, who pursue an undisguised campaign against the DPRK and attempt to realize their ambition of becoming a military power, in line with the U.S. suffocation policy against the DPRK.

Second, we will continue to make every possible effort to expose to the world community the capital crimes committed by the United States against the Korean people and urge the United States to make a full apology and provide compensation for them.

In the past Korean war, the United States, in wanton violation of the international laws, massacred a huge number of innocent Korean people by applying all imaginable barbarous methods, including indiscriminate bombardment, germ warfare and chemical warfare. For half a century since the cease-fire, it has done indescribable harm to Korea through unjust military threat, economic blockade and sanction.

The Pyongyang International Tribunal, which opened within the framework of the conference, held a hearing on detailed facts of U.S. crimes gathered for the last 50 years by the fact-finding teams of international democratic organizations and different nations and passed the judgment to put those accountable under stern punishment.

We will submit the facts of U.S. crimes and the verdict passed by the current Pyongyang International Tribunal to the UN Human Rights Commission and continue a variety of activities until the criminal acts of the United States have been pulled up officially by the international community and a binding decision has been adopted against them.

Third, we will launch protests in different parts of the world to reveal the illegality of the occupation of south Korea by the U.S. troops and demand the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from south Korea.

The occupation of south Korea by the U.S. troops can by no means be justified.

The United States has been stationing its troops in south Korea for over half a century: it intentionally violated a clause of the Armistice Agreement that stipulates the requirement to call a political consultative meeting in three months after the cease-fire to discuss the withdrawal of all foreign forces out of the Korean peninsula, and ignored the resolution adopted by the 30th session of the UN General Assembly to dismantle the "Command of UN Forces" in south Korea and withdraw the U.S. troops.

The occupation of south Korea by the U.S. troops represents a major factor that poses a grave threat to the stability on the Korean peninsula and inflicts suffering and misfortune upon the Korean people.

At present all Korean people strongly demand the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from south Korea.

We will make more energetic efforts to arouse the world opinion against the illegal occupation of south Korea by the U.S. troops through different forms of protest and increase international pressure upon the United States to pull its forces out of south Korea.

Fourth, we will do our best to give strong support to the Korean people in their just cause to safeguard peace on the Korean peninsula and reunify the country in an independent way.

Under the banner of the Songun policy upheld by the esteemed Excellency Kim Jong Il, the heroic struggle of the Korean people to safeguard the national dignity and sovereignty against the escalating U.S. threat of aggression constitutes a reliable factor that ensures peace on the Korean peninsula.

The Songun politics of Korea is a righteous policy of giving primary importance to military affairs to repel the armed invasion of outside forces and defend the national dignity by relying on its own powerful armed forces against the high-handed and arbitrary attempts of the imperialists to infringe upon the sovereignty of other nations.

We fully sympathize with the firm belief of the Korean people that Songun is immediately Juche, patriotism and an all-mighty sword of justice which brings one victory after another. We are convinced that support for the Songun politics of Korea and strengthening the might of peace-loving forces are a correct way to defend international justice and put an end to the arbitrary acts of big powers to trample down small nations by means of force.

The Korean people will surely emerge victorious in their just struggle to safeguard peace on the Korean peninsula and reunify the country.

A huge number of justice- and peace-loving friends in the world who are opposed to the high-handedness and arbitrariness of the imperialists will always stand firm on their side.

With reaffirmed confidence in the validity of our activities, we will continue to give full support to, and solidarity with the Korean people in their heroic struggle to defend the country and reunify it.

Participants in the International Conference for Peace on the Korean Peninsula

Letter to U.S. Congress

Sirs;

We, representatives of different non-governmental international organizations as well as of friendship and solidarity organizations for Korean people, address this letter to you with due respect.

As you know, 50 years has passed since the conclusion of the Korean Armistice Agreement which ended the war between the DPRK and the allied forces of 16 nations led by your country.

Nevertheless, neither war nor peace but tension has persistently prevailed on the Korean peninsula for half a century. To make it worse, the recent aggravation of DPRK-U.S. relations has caused a grave crisis which would easily result in the resumption of war.

Against this background, we had the international conference for peace on the Korean peninsula in Pyongyang from July 23 to 25, 2003.

The conference expressed a deep concern over the possible catastrophic consequences to be brought by the military confrontation between the DPRK and the United States to world security and discussed the pressing issues to prevent a war and ensure stable peace on the Korean peninsula.

All the participants in the conference unanimously recognized that the cause of the drastic deterioration of DPRK-U.S. relations lay in the fact that the Bush administration groundlessly listed the DPRK as a part of the "axis of evil" and a target of its nuclear preemptive strike, and threatened its sovereignty and right to survival, unilaterally heedless of the Geneva Agreement.

Since the root cause of the issue is clear, we demand that the U.S. administration makes a bold turn in its policy towards Korea and seeks a reasonable way for the governments of the two countries to relieve each other's fear through dialogues and negotiations.

The international community is now doubting why the Bush administration persistently refuses to sit for bilateral talks and aggravate tension by putting international pressure on Korea, despite the fact that the crisis can be resolved peacefully through talks between the two sides.

We believe that the Bush administration intentionally aggravates the DPRK-U.S. relations in a vicious attempt to get justification for military attack against Korea.

If the United States continues to spearhead military threat and blackmail to Korea and isolate it internationally, it will inevitably worsen the situation and bring uncontrollable consequences.

The U.S. Congress is well advised to take seriously the fact that the anti-U.S. sentiment of the DPRK army and people has swelled near to burst owing to the persistent political and military threat and economic sanction imposed by the United States for more than half a century.

While staying in Korea, we have witness with our own eyes the Korean people who are firmly determined to build up their own strong deterrent force and fight at the cost of their lives to safeguard their sovereignty and system.

We are convinced that the DPRK-U.S. military confrontation would be the fiercest ever in the U.S. war history, ensuing unimaginably catastrophic consequence.

That is why, the majority of the nations in the world maintain that the Korean issue be solved by all means in a peaceful way.

We recognize that the U.S. Congress should make a reasonable judgment of the reality and exercise its full influence to check in hold the bellicose attempt of the Bush administration to isolate the DPRK internationally and inflict preemptive nuclear strike on it, and urge the Bush administration to make a positive response to peaceful negotiation with the DPRK.

If you turn your back to the inclination of the Bush administration to recourse to power based on unilateral arbitrary mode of thinking, the United States will not be able to avoid the world protest, denunciation and isolation.

We hope that you will turn your ears to the voice of the international community and show discretion to press the Bush administration to make a bold turn in its policy as soon as possible for peaceful solution of the Korean issue.

Best regards, (Sgined by all the members of the Tribunal)

Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea July 25, 2003

Letter to UN Secretary General

Your Excellency UN Secretary General,

We, representatives of different international democratic organizations as well as of friendship and solidarity organizations for Korean people, address this letter to Your Excellency after having held the international conference for peace on the Korean peninsula in Pyongyang, capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, in the light of the grave situation now prevailing on the Korean peninsula.

As is known to Your Excellency, the United States has persistently pursued the hostile policy towards the DPRK for more than half a century since the Korean war in the early 1950s. It is a major factor that has seriously jeopardized peace on the Korean peninsula.

In particular, the present U.S. administration threw mud on the DPRK, a dignified UN member state, by labeling it as a part of the "axis of evil" and a "rogue state." Worse still, it has set the latter as a target of nuclear preemptive strike and reached the phase of full implementation of its policy to isolate and stifle it, thereby extremely aggravating the DPRK-US relations which once showed a sign of improvement.

Recently, the United States makes a premeditated attempt to internationalize the nuclear issue between the DPRK and the USA, build up its military forces in south Korea and lay an international siege through air-sea blockade, thus driving the situation on the Korean peninsula to a grave military confrontation that would result in the nuclear holocaust, instead of peaceful solution of the Korean issue.

All these facts clearly show the international community who is a real "axis of evil" that violates the international laws and destroys peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.

Actually, the peace on the Korean peninsula is now being maintained by the strong self-defensive deterrent force the DPRK has built under the Songun (army-based) policy.

Considering the U.S. policy to stifle the DPRK as a dangerous attempt that will destroy peace on the Korean peninsula and cause catastrophic nuclear holocaust, we make the following proposal to you with due respect:

First, the United Nations, heedful of the fact that the United States has misused the name of the former responsible for world peace and security for its policy to stifle the DPRK, should by no means allow the U.S. attempt to find a way to military attack upon the DPRK by putting the nuclear issue of the Korean peninsula on the agenda of the United Nations.

If the United Nations yields to the U.S. pressure and touches the nuclear issue of the Korean peninsula in an unfair way, permitting high-handedness and arbitrariness of the United States on the Korean peninsula as in Iraq, it will face strong protest of not only the Korean people but also all peace-loving peoples of the world and deprive itself of its objectiveness, fairness and the value of its existence.

Second, the United Nations should not derail from the fundamental principle that the DPRK and the U.S.A are the major parties to solve the nuclear issue of the Korean peninsula and encourage the both sides to seek peaceful solution through negotiations.

The nuclear issue between the DPRK and U.S. is originated from the fact that the United States has deployed nuclear weapons in south Korea and posed nuclear threat to the nuclear-free DPRK in wanton violation of the Korean Armistice Agreement, the DPRK-USA Agreed Framework and the NPT.

Accordingly, creditworthy guarantees by the United States of the DPRK's security will naturally relieve the former of its apprehension. This is possible only through peaceful negotiations.

Third, the United Nations should never allow the U.S. attempt to lay an international siege against the DPRK as it is a violation of the Korean Armistice Agreement and will drive the situation to catastrophe.

The DPRK has already declared solemnly that it will consider any form of sanction against it as a declaration of war.

The United Nations should take necessary steps for its member states not to join the United States in illegal blockade against the DPRK which would bring grave consequences.

Fourth, the United Nations should respect the will and effort of the Korean people to put an end to the division of the country, the root cause of the tension on the Korean peninsula, and reunify the country by themselves. It should prevent any attempt of the nations concerned to obstruct or unfairly interfere in that process.

We expect that Your Excellency will exercise due influence so that the United Nations, which assumes the responsibility for world peace and security, would help solve the Korean issue in a peaceful way in conformity with its noble mission.

Best regards, (Sgined by all the members of the Tribunal)

Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea July 25, 2003

United States

Passionate and Determined Stand for Peace and Reunification for Korea

In the United States, Americans and Koreans came together July 26-27 to oppose war against Korea and stand as one for peace and reunification. Youth were in the forefront throughout the weekend events, joined by elders and young children. Organized under the theme, "Commemoration for Change," the Committee for Self-Determination, the Committee for Korea Peace Forum, Peace in Korea and others, joined by participants from California, New York, south Korea and elsewhere, together ensured the success of the events.

A spirited demonstration and march around the White House on Sunday, July 27 capped off the activities, that included a forum and cultural evening. Representatives from various groups from south Korea, numerous Korean Americans and their organizations, anti-war activists and others came together in Washington, D.C. to call on the U.S. to sign a peace treaty with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). A broad petition campaign is being organized to officially bring an end to the Korean War and secure a non-aggression pact between the U.S. and DPRK.

Sunday's march was led by youth playing traditional Korean drums, which invigorated all who participated. Their militant efforts attracted the attention of passersby, who took information leaflets and talked to the marchers. Among the many banners were those demanding: "No War! Yes Peace!" and "U.S. Troops Out of Korea - Support Reunification." Enthusiastic chants rang through the streets: "One, Two, Three, Four - We don't want a Korean War Five, Six, Seven, Eight - Stop the war plan, negotiate!" and "Stop the U.S. War Machine - from Iraq to Korea to the Philippines."

A lively and inspiring cultural program on Saturday evening set the tone for the demonstration. It brought the many different forces together for songs, poetry, traditional Korean drums and more. The event exemplified the passion and determination of All Together! in the struggle for peace and reunification. The youth organized and participated in creative cultural expressions that also included video, slides and a live band. All these various forms drew on the rich Korean history and experience of struggle against colonialism and imperialism. They depicted the great dignity and fighting spirit of the Korean people, uniting in the struggle for self- determination and reunification. Americans from different backgrounds were also called on to join in performing songs. The final group song, titled "Let's Go Together," captured the spirit of the night and left its enduring mark on all.

Saturday's public forum focused on working for self-determination in Korea. Representatives from the Republic of Korea spoke on the reunification movement and its important advance three years ago with the signing of the historic North-South Joint Declaration. They told of the ardent desire of the Korean people to break free from U.S. interference and to determine their own fate. Farmers, workers and students are all stepping up their organizing and uniting their struggles for change.

It was also brought out that the biggest problem in Korea is U.S. imperialism. Participants rejected a situation where the U.S. refuses to sign a peace treaty, continues to occupy the south and keep the country divided, using 37,000 troops and a massive wall spanning the breadth of the country. Those young and old spoke to the untold suffering and hardship for the people brought on by the over 50 years of division and continuing U.S. crimes, such as the killing of two young school girls by a military convoy.

The U.S. drive for world domination was a focus for discussion, including its on-going aggression against Afghanistan, Iraq, the Philippines and Palestine. The work to build unity among all those fighting against U.S. aggression and occupation was emphasized.

Leading up to the march, a peace forum was held on July 24. It included U.S. Congress members who recently traveled to the DPRK. The focus was on the relations between the U.S. and DPRK which have become very tense in recent months as the U.S. has been carrying out military manoeuvres and promoting war plans that include a "pre-emptive" U.S. nuclear strike. Emphasis was given to the need to promote direct talks between the two nations so as to avoid war. The DPRK has repeatedly expressed its readiness to sign a non-aggression pact but so far the U.S. has refused this path toward peace. As a testament to the U.S. government's disdain for diplomacy, the UN Ambassador from the DPRK who was scheduled to speak at the forum was denied permission to travel to Washington by the State Department.

Filled with the spirit of standing as one for reunification in Korea and peace worldwide and enthused by the broad participation of young and old and of Americans of different backgrounds, participants left energized and determined to win change.

Call to Strengthen the Solidarity Movement with Korea

The presidium members of the International Liaison Committee for Reunification and Peace in Korea (CILRECO) called upon all progressive forces of the world to launch an active movement for solidarity with the Korean people on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the conclusion of the Korean Armistice Agreement (AA). This call was made by Guy Dupré, secretary general of the liaison committee, in a statement on July 12 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the victory in the great Fatherland Liberation War.

He noted, the United States launched an invasion of the young DPRK on June 25, 1950 to realize its strategy for world domination only to suffer a shameful defeat in the three-year war and sign the AA on July 27, 1953.

Instead of drawing a lesson from its defeat, the U.S. is working hard to realize its political and military domination over the whole of Korea and the Asia-Pacific region at any cost, ignoring its commitments under international law and the AA. Referring to the role of the UN as a world body with a noble mission to respect international law, he stressed that the UN should take to task the U.S. ceaseless provocations and threat of invasion including its plan for a preemptive attack on the DPRK and pay due attention to the efforts to see a non-aggression treaty concluded between the DPRK and the U.S.

Korean Central News Agency, July 25, 2003

Article and images: The TML Daily: http://www.cpcml.ca/tmld/D33156.htm

Indictment for Crimes Committed by the United States of America against Korea -- Pyongyang International Tribunal

Verdict of Pyongyang International Tribunal on US Crimes in Korea