The General Association of Koreans in China in its statement on Thursday said that Ro's Pyongyang visit was a token of due courtesy prompted by the desire to share sorrow over the great loss to the nation as a member of the same nation, and a righteous and heroic action to achieve national unity and reunification. It can not be a reason of suppression, it said.

The statement branded the unwarranted fascist crackdown on Ro by the south Korean puppet forces as an unpardonable crime that violates freedom and rights of reunification movement, defying the nation's tradition and conscience of a pro-reunification figure to contribute to national reconciliation and peace.

The situation proves that it would be hard to expect democracy of the south Korean society nor the reunification of the country as long as the south Korean conservative regime is left intact, it added.

The Headquarters of Koreans in China of Pomminryon and the China Regional Committee of the Overseas Side Committee for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration also issued a joint statement on Friday.

It said the Lee Myung Bak regime committed fascist crackdown on the pro-reunification champion and is set to punish him on charges of violation of "Security Law".

The joint statement went on:

With this situation as an occasion the Lee group seeks to kick up wholesale suppression of reunification movement organizations which support the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration and insist on their implementation, calling them "pro-north and leftist faction" and "forces following the north". Lurking behind this is a foolish ambition to win in the upcoming "presidential election".

The south Korean "government" authorities should immediately release the illegally detained patriotic personages including Ro Su Hui and ensure their free activities.