Pyongyang, November 2 (KCNA) -- Over 10 political parties and civic and social organizations of south Korea including the Democratic Labor Party, the Solidarity for Progress and the People for Achieving Peace and Reunification jointly called a press conference in Seoul on Oct. 29 in protest against the south Korea-U.S. negotiations for increasing the funds for the upkeep of the U.S. forces.

At the conference speakers referred to the fact that negotiations took place between the south Korean authorities and the U.S. in Seoul on the same day for the conclusion of a special agreement on the share of the funds for the U.S. forces, denouncing the U.S. for scheming to burden south Korea again with the expenses for the transfer of the U.S. second division although it is obliged to cover them.

Urging the "government" to strongly reject the U.S. unreasonable demand and raise voices calling for the cut-down of the funds for the upkeep of the U.S. forces, they demanded the U.S. return the funds it has illegally accumulated and stop demanding increased upkeep.

The People for Achieving Peace and Reunification held a meeting in front of the puppet Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on the same day to demand the retraction of the special agreement on the share of the funds for the upkeep of the U.S. forces.