North Korean Weekly Slams South Plan to Extend Iraq Troop Presence

Text of of commentary by Kim Ung-chol entitled “For whom is the game of extending the troop dispatch being played?” by North Korean weekly newspaper Tongil Sinbo, as carried by North Korean Uriminjokkkiri website on 26 November

The South Korean “government”, at a “cabinet” meeting held some time ago, adopted a “motion for the extension of the period of the troop dispatch” in order to extend the period of the troop dispatch to Iraq – which would terminate by the end of this December – by one year. Eventually, the South Korean troops dispatched to Iraq will continue to remain there until the end of December next year.

It cannot but be an intolerable act of treachery against the nation, which gives priority not to the nation’s dignity and interests but to the outside force’s interests that the South Korean authorities have contrarily extended the period of the troop dispatch to Iraq in defiance of the protests and denunciations of the people and all of the circles that desire the withdrawal of the South Korean troops from Iraq.

As for the war in Iraq, it is, by nature, a criminal war of aggression that the United States has waged for its ugly ambition for gaining global hegemony. In actuality, there is absolutely no moral obligation that the South Korean authorities should send their troops for the war of aggression in Iraq. The fact that the South Korean troops were dispatched to Iraq in compliance with the United States’ demand itself is the nation’s disgrace and tragedy.

The United States that provoked the war in Iraq by violently violating even the international law despite the unanimous denunciations and rejections of the peoples of the world is floundering in the morass of its mud today.

While a vicious circle of terrorism and retaliation is continuing, countless innocent people have lost their lives, and already more than 2,000 US troops have kicked the bucket in Iraq. As such, the movement of demanding the US troop withdrawal from Iraq and opposing the war in Iraq is growing even in the United States, to say nothing of the world. The countries – which sent their troops to Iraq in obedience to the United States – as well are now sidestepping by vying one another. Dismayed in this situation, the Bush administration is squirming and wriggling to hold the troops of its follower nations in Iraq by all means. The fact that the South Korean authorities have further extended the deadline of the withdrawal of the troops dispatched to Iraq precisely under these circumstances fully shows their pro-US mentality of flunkeyism.

Currently, the anti-US Iraqi forces of resistance are increasing the intensity of attacks not only on the US troops but also on many other countries’ troops dispatched to Iraq in obedience to the United States and on the peoples of these countries as well. Foreigners are captured, kidnapped and killed everywhere in Iraq. As was shown by the “Kim Son-il incident”, South Korea as well can never be an exception. No one can tell when and where a second or third “Kim Son-il case” would occur in Iraq as a result of the South Korean authorities’ extension of the period of the troop dispatch to Iraq. Furthermore, the South Korean people can never live in peace now for even a moment in the face of the threats such as the explosions of bombs that occur throughout the world.

Over the action the South Korean authorities have taken this time, all of the compatriots who hold dear the nation’s dignity and interests cannot but question for whom their “government” exists and for whom their “government” works. Nothing can justify the anti- national act of the South Korean authorities that serve as guards for the outside force by even sacrificing their compatriots. If the South Korean authorities think of the country and the nation’s dignity and interests even slightly, they should cancel the extension of the troop dispatch to Iraq and should immediately withdraw the South Korean troops. All of the compatriots ablaze with patriotism are keeping a sharp eye on the South Korean authorities’ attitude.