calendar>>August 18. 2014 Juche 103

August 15 All-People Rally Held in Seoul

Pyongyang, August 18 (KCNA) -- The August 15 all-people rally for opposing Japan's "right to collective self-defense" and achieving peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula was held at the plaza of Seoul Railway Station on Friday, according to Thongil News, an internet paper of south Korea. It was co-sponsored by the South Side Committee for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration and the Committee for Promoting the August 15 Rally for Independent Reunification Marking the 69th Anniversary of Liberation.

At the rally speakers said in order to put an end the history of national division and achieve the peaceful reunification, it is necessary to sincerely implement the south-north joint declarations.

An appeal was read out at the rally.

The U.S.-south Korea Ulji Freedom Guardian joint military exercises and the revival of militarism including Japan's exercise of the "right to collective self-defense" and visits to the Yasukuni Shrine are threatening the peace on the Korean peninsula, the appeal said.

It demanded the "government" stop all war maneuvers with the U.S. targeting the north, lift the "May 24 step" and open the way of peace and cooperation.

At the end of the rally the participants marched as far as the plaza of the Seoul City Office from the plaza of Seoul Railway Station.