Pyongyang, August 17 (KCNA) -- A rally in Youido, Seoul on August 14 called for judging the treacherous regime and realizing independent and peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula. It was sponsored by the south Korean Committee for Promoting the August 15 Meeting for Independent Reunification.

More than 15 000 people from all walks of life including members of opposition parties, workers, peasants, youth and students, women and the poor attended the rally.

The speakers said that the authorities are cracking down on the forces protesting against their policy for confrontation with the DPRK and unpopular rule on the strength of the fascist law. This prompted the enraged people to rise up in actions in different parts, they added.

They called for judging the present regime and achieving the independent and peaceful reunification by pooling their efforts and implementing the inter-Korean joint declarations.

A letter from Rev. Han Sang Ryol, a reunification champion, who is being kept behind bars, was read out at the rally.

The letter said that the inter-Korean joint declarations are a key to realizing the people's hope.

Prior to the rally, different events were held in various parts of Youido. They included a youth rally for peace and reunification, an event of women for reunification, a students' cultural meeting for independent reunification, the August 15 rally of the poor for reunification and a rally of the Democratic Labor Party for vowing to achieve independent reunification.