Vol. 79/No. 15      April 27, 2015

Below is a solidarity message sent to the Workers’ Party of Korea on April 10 by Steve Clark on behalf of the National Committee of the Socialist Workers Party.

The Socialist Workers Party and Young Socialists send internationalist greetings on the occasion of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s April 15 national holiday. We pledge our unconditional solidarity with the struggle to reunify Korea, partitioned in 1945 at the hands of Washington and Moscow.

We condemn US imperialism’s drive to deploy THAAD [Terminal High Altitude Area Defense] combat weapons in South Korea — a misnamed “anti-missile defense” system intended to fortify Washington’s offensive military footing against the DPRK, China, and Russia. Despite cynical denials by both US and South Korean officials, THAAD is clearly on the agenda of the current three-day [April 9-11] trip to Seoul by US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter.

Meanwhile, US and South Korean armed forces are continuing their annual Foal Eagle war maneuvers, involving troops from both governments in land, sea, and air operations.

Workers and farmers the world over are resisting attacks on our living standards, job conditions, and political rights. In the US, refinery workers are striking for safe conditions; employees exploited by McDonald’s, Walmart, and other capitalists are calling for a $15 minimum wage and union rights; and working people are demanding an end to cop killings in Black communities and beyond. Hard-fought struggles are under way by working people from Ukraine to Kurdistan, from Mexico to Israel and Palestine, from Turkey to Bangladesh.

It is among embattled working people that support will be found to end US sanctions and embargoes against the DPRK, Cuba, Iran, Russia, and Venezuela. Working-class solidarity can be won to demand that Seoul lift its ban on the Unified Progressive Party, free imprisoned UPP leaders, and stop union-busting against teachers and rail workers.

On your national holiday, the Socialist Workers Party and Young Socialists join with you and others the world over to demand: US troops, ships, planes, and “anti-missile” systems out of Korea. For a Korean Peninsula and Pacific Ocean free of nuclear weapons.

Korea is one!  
 
 
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