They included the Solidarity for Progress, the Confederation of Trade Unions, the Solidarity for Democracy, People's Life, Peaceful Reunification and Sovereignty and the People for Achieving Peace and Reunification.

Speakers at the conference said that the military's scheme for shelling in Yonphyong Island is bound to face a severe punishment by the people as it will drive the Korean Peninsula to the flames of war.

If a military conflict occurs again between the south and the north, it will lead to an overall war rather than a limited warfare, they said, demanding that the Lee Myung Bak "government" stop action of bringing horror of war to the people.

What the "government" should do is to come out to the south-north dialogue for peace on the peninsula, far from staging the shelling drill which might spark off a military conflict, they said.

They demanded the prompt repeal of the reckless projected shelling aimed to divert elsewhere the people's anti-"government" sentiment over the railroading of the budget bill for next year at the "National Assembly".