They met in Tokyo on Jan. 27.

The Association should keep the stand of maintaining national independence and giving priority to the nation, said Nam Sung U, vice-chairman of the Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon). He called for foiling the anti-reunification policies of the Lee Myung Bak group of traitors and taking the lead in the nationwide reunification movement.

Ri Tong Je, president of the Association of Koreans in Japan for Peaceful Reunification, said the national reunification was the lifelong wishes of President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. It is the most important national historic task assigned to the present generation, he added.

The drive to carry out Kim Jong Il's behests for national reunification this year is related to the destiny of the nation in the new 100-year history of the Juche era, he said.

The civil servants and managing officials of the Association will keep to the path of reunification and patriotism holding the dear respected Kim Jong Un as the lodestar of national reunification, he stressed.