Attending there were figures of civic and solidarity organizations from across Japan active for the normalization of DPRK-Japan relations and masses.

Speeches were made there.

Co-Representative of the liaison council Sumiko Shimizu, representative of the Japanese Women's Society for Solidarity with the Korean Women, said at the national general meeting that she expected progress to be made in improving Japan-DPRK relations after the regime change in Japan but these relations deteriorated and the Japanese authorities are tightening the military nexus with the U.S. and enforcing a more hostile policy toward the DPRK with the case of the south Korean warship's sinking, in particular, as a momentum.

Koichi Ishizaka, co-representative and secretary general of the liaison council, reviewed the activities of the liaison council in the last one year. Urging the Japanese government to make a switchover in its policy toward the DPRK, he deemed it as the future tasks to make positive efforts to make the Japanese government lift the sanctions against the DPRK, resume the talks for normalizing Japan-DPRK relations, ensure the rights of the Koreans in Japan and ban chauvinism.

A report on the movement for Japan-DPRK friendship from across Japan was heard at the national general meeting and opinions were exchanged there.

Then followed the rally. Speakers said that the relations between the two countries have not improved but deteriorated since the publication of the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration. This fact proves that dialogue and negotiation are the only way of creating the atmosphere of reconciliation and confidence, they said, urging the Japanese government to opt for the talks with the DPRK unconditionally.

The national general meeting and rally adopted an appeal calling upon the Japanese government to apologize for the past crimes Japan committed against Korea and opt for resuming the said talks.