Present there were Ho Jong Man, chief vice-chairman of the Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), officials of the Headquarters of Miyagi Prefecture of the emergency measure committee of Chongryon, disaster-stricken compatriots and the bereaved families.

Ho in his delivery speech said that the relief fund associated with Kim Jong Il's noble compatriotism encourages the Chongryon officials and compatriots.

Saying that the Koreans in Japan can overcome whatever difficulty if they are led by Kim Jong Il, Ho called on the officials and compatriots in the prefecture to conduct vigorous rescue operations to recover the Chongryon organization and sincerely help the disaster-hit compatriots by pooling efforts.

He conveyed the relief fund to the bereaved families and the disaster-hit Koreans under Chongryon and those under the south Korean Residents Association in Japan (Mindan) as well as those Koreans not affiliated to any of these organizations.

Speeches were made at the meeting.

A letter to Kim Jong Il was read out there.

Ho together with Chongryon officials called at disaster-hit compatriots in Onagawa, Ishinomaki, Shiogama and Tagajo on April 7 to convey the fund.

A similar meeting was held in Iwate Prefecture on April 8.