The statement accused the Jeju Provincial Education Agency of deciding to dismiss the former senior vice-chairman of the KCTU from the office of teacher on the suspicion that he led a general strike of the KCTU against the import of American beef in 2008.

It is unreasonable to take such disciplinary step against him for the mere reason that he opposed the import of American beef threatening the lives of people, it noted.

This cannot be interpreted otherwise than an act of backing the regime's intensified suppression of the Teachers Union, it charged.

We will make every possible effort to have the unreasonable disciplinary step lifted, it declared.