The situation on the Korean Peninsula is sliding dangerously towards armed confrontation. Since August, the south Korean fascists, aided and prodded by the U.S. imperialists, have been escalating their propaganda war against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. It appears that the size and support amongst the students for reunification and the ouster of U.S. troops surprised the U.S. and the south Korean puppet government. Tens of thousands of students fought pitched battles with a massive police force for nine days. The students wanted to participate in a unification festival, which was declared illegal under the "National Security Law." The authorities arrested more than 7,000 students. Since that time the south Korean government has engaged in total suppression of anyone even mentioning the word "unification." All patriotic organizations have been banned. Even electronic communications such as computers or fax machines are not allowed to carry messages discussing the issue. Any person who mentions "unification" is immediately branded a "spy" and "agent of the communists from the north" and subject to severe penalties. A police spokesperson said Monday that "North Korea is suspected of sending documents via facsimile this week to south Korean citizens and organizations...(explaining their position regarding the submarine incident.)" The puppet government was so concerned to stop any views from the north being heard that they used the phone company to track down some of the fax messages which "were found to have been faxed from a stationery store in Osaka, Japan." News reports state that the Korean Police said they will "seek cooperation from Interpol, if necessary, in handling the case." They justified their measures by claiming that there exists a "possibility of resident spies or pro-North Korean dissidents launching similar propaganda activities." On top of this blatant fascism, and contrary to any norms of civilized behavior, the south Korean armed forces were ordered to slaughter the members of a crippled DPRK submarine that had the misfortune to run aground off south Korea. They used this inhuman bloodbath to tighten controls over the people through curfews and "security alerts" and heighten war hysteria even further. They have abandoned any pretence of human rights altogether as they label as "spies" anyone who suggests normalizing relations with the north. The U.S. for its part has transported huge quantities of war material to south Korea so that supplies will be there in the event large numbers of U.S. troops are quickly airlifted into Korea from bases elsewhere. They also announced a new sale to south Korea of 100 sophisticated missiles. The DPRK has denounced these provocations as active war preparations by the U.S. imperialists proving that they have no intention of signing a peace agreement with Korea but want war in a vain attempt to conquer all of Korea. All thinking people must oppose the fascist suppression of the people in south Korea and the growing war preparations and threats of U.S. imperialism. Shawgi Tell University at Buffalo Graduate School of Education [EMAIL PROTECTED]
