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| A socialist newsweekly published in the interests of working people Vol. 64/No. 25  June 26, 2000
South Korea villagers demand closing of U.S. bombing range BY SAMANTHA KERN Demanding the closure of the Koon-Ni bombing range in south Korea, around 2,000 villagers and activists marched from Mae Hyang, a village 50 miles southwest of Seoul, to the nearby U.S. military bombing range June 6. Protests against the U.S. military occupation of Korea have increased since early May, when a U.S. jet dropped six bombs on the Koon-Ni Range near Mae Hyang. Villagers explain that six people were injured and buildings were damaged by the impact. "We'll risk our lives to fight until the Koon-Ni range is shut down," said Choi Yong-woon, who lives in the Mae Hyang village. U.S. and Korean military investigators deny the bombs caused injuries or property damage. South Korea's Defense Ministry will suspend live bombing exercises during the summit between south Korean president Kim Dae-jung and north Korean leader Kim Jong Il June 12–14 in Pyongyang, the capital of north Korea. They will resume bombing after the meeting. The Defense Ministry ruled out closing or moving the military base and instead will relocate 236 homes closest to the range. Students organized similar protests recently in Seoul, demanding the withdrawal of 37,000 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea. Chanting "Yankee go home," the students tried to march to the U.S. embassy but were stopped by the police. South Korean law bans demonstrations within 100 yards of foreign diplomatic missions.
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