The western imperialist countries have accused the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) of using satellite technology for nuclear weapons research.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
By Eric Struch
New York
Published Jul 31, 2009 7:49 PM
On July 27, 1953, U.S. imperialism and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK or north Korea) signed an armistice agreement that halted the Korean War. Fifty-six years later, not only does the U.S. still refuse to sign a peace treaty, but it still occupies south Korea with 28,500 troops, stationed there to prop up a puppet government.
On July 25 Nodutdol for Korean Community Development, a grassroots organization based in Queens, N.Y., co-sponsored a candlelight vigil with the National Campaign to End the Korean War to shed light on the urgent need for the U.S. to sign a peace treaty with the DPRK that would bring the war to an official end.
The meeting, “Unlearn War: Proliferate Peace—Peace Treaty to End the Korean War,” held at the Solidarity Center in Manhattan, was part of a coordinated national effort from July 24 through 27. Similar meetings were held in Honolulu, Los Angeles, Oakland, Calif., and Washington, D.C.
The New York meeting included a talk by Christine Ahn, co-founder of Korean Americans for Fair Trade, a performance by Brown Rice Family, a Pungmul band (traditional Korean drumming), and showing of the films “Still Present Past” and “Street Outreach.” Thomas Kennedy of Vets for Peace spoke about his experiences as a Marine in the Korean War. Taiyo Na, a New York-born emcee and songwriter, also performed. A closing talk was given by the Rev. Meeil Lee.
The U.S. military occupation of south Korea and Washington’s continued refusal to sign a peace treaty are the two main obstacles to peace and the reunification of the Korean nation. Both the DPRK and the Republic of Korea (RoK) in the south have reunification ministries. The leadership of the DPRK has, for decades, had plans on the table for a unified, co-federal republic and has shown its willingness to negotiate many times. The popular mood in the RoK has been for reunification—about a quarter of the population is separated from family members in the DPRK.
The state of war is the main justification the U.S. uses for maintaining and expanding its more than 100 military bases in the south. It is the reason given by the RoK government for its yearly allocation of $26 billion for the military. It is clear that now is the time for the U.S. to sign a peace treaty to end the longest war in history.
For more information about the national Candle Light Vigil, see http://www.endthekoreanwar.org and check out its new online exhibit at http://stillpresentpasts.org . For more information on Nodutdol, see http://www.nodutdol.org .
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Articles copyright 1995-2009 Workers World. Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is preserved.
Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011
Email: ww@workers.org
Page printed from:
http://www.workers.org/2009/world/korea_0806/
No comments:
Post a Comment