The Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union released a statement on March 31, in which it expressed deep apprehension over the reckless moves being made by the United States and its followers to hinder the launch of the experimental communications satellite "Kwangmyongsong-2" by the DPRK, a sovereign state.

The statement said that the United States' outrageous interference in the internal affairs of the DPRK, a peace-loving state, is intended to dominate the world and, furthermore, violate the sovereignty of the DPRK and other countries.

This is, in essence, quite contrary to the "spirit of mutual respect and equality" contained in the September 19 Joint Statement, it pointed out.

It said that the Secretariat of the C.C., the Communist Party of the Soviet Union fully supports the steadfast stand of the Workers' Party of Korea led by General Secretary Kim Jong Il and the DPRK's policy of developing space for peaceful purposes.

Also, the Czech, Moravian and Silesian Trade Unions' Association issued a statement on April 1, the Belarusian National Organization of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the National Social Federation "For the Union and Union's Communist Party" and the Belarus-DPRK National Friend Association Named after Kim Il Sung and the Belarusian Social Association "For Democracy, Social Progress and Justice" joint statements on April 2, and the Russian Association for Friendship and Cultural Cooperation with the DPRK a statement on March 31, in support of the DPRK's projected satellite launch.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Group for the Study of Songun Politics and the Thai Branch of the Korean Friendship Association headquartered in Spain sent letters of solidarity to the Pyongyang mission of the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front on Mar. 20 and 25.