Speakers at the press conference accused the prosecution of arresting Choe on charge of violation of the "Security Law".

This is evidently a politically motivated action, they held, and went on:

These days Lee Myung Bak and other heavy-weights of the present "government" are uttering without hesitation words "forces following the north" and intensifying the crackdown upon the progressive organizations. The arrest of Choe Tong Jin was part of this repressive campaign.

The "government" authorities are suppressing members of the South Headquarters of Pomminryon under the pretext that they have made efforts for reconciliation and cooperation between the south and the north of Korea and advocated the peaceful reunification of the country.

A press release was read out there.

It said that those labeled "forces following the north" by the Lee Myung Bak "government" are the people who support the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration and strive hard to eradicate the pro-Japanese and pro-U.S. forces and build society where 99 percent of the population will enjoy a happy life, too.

The conservative forces going against national reunification will surely face punishment by history as they perpetrate a "witch-hunting of forces following the north" under the watchword of the outdated coloring operation, the press release said, adding:

The present "government" should free Choe Tong Jin and other leading members of the South Headquarters of Pomminryon as early as possible and stop the unjust suppression at once.