KFA charts the way forward

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 12^th  December 2012 and the third DPRK nuclear test on the 12^th 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.