C.C., DFRK Sends Appeal to Compatriots in South

 Pyongyang, March 1 (KCNA) -- The Central Committee of the Democratic Front for the Reunification of Korea issued an appeal to the compatriots of the south on Sunday, the 96th anniversary of the March 1 Popular Uprising.
    The appeal said that the uprising was a nation-wide anti-Japanese patriotic resistance as Koreans courageously turned out in the struggle of justice to win back the dignity of the nation and the sovereignty of the country after it was deprived of its sovereignty by the Japanese imperialists' brutal occupation.
    Through the heroic March 1 Popular Uprising, the Korean nation demonstrated before the whole world that it was the nation strong in independence with indomitable stamina and ardent patriotic spirit of braving any sacrifice to win back the sovereignty of the country, the appeal said, adding:
    But the gangster-like U.S. imperialists, which had landed in south Korea, partitioned the land of golden tapestry into two parts, though the Korean nation was delighted at the liberation of the country and rejoiced over the building of an independent and sovereign state.
    Violation of sovereignty by foreign forces and pain caused by national division should neither be tolerated nor be allowed, the appeal said, and went on:
    The U.S. persistent domination and intervention in south Korea are the root cause of all misfortunes and pain suffered by the Korean nation and a basic stumbling block in the way of achieving the nation's sovereignty and reunification.
    The U.S. is neither "liberator" and "helper" nor "guardian".
    Today the north-south relations are inching close to the extreme confrontation and the dark clouds of a nuclear war hang heavily over the Korean peninsula. This is also a product of the U.S. long-term presence and domination over south Korea and its hostile policy toward the DPRK.
    The south Korean authorities should resolutely drop their shameful sycophancy and treachery and get rid of the U.S. control, clearly aware that their persistent act of keeping to the path of confrontation and war in collusion with outsiders with their backs on the nation will bring destruction only.
    The appeal said that the final victory of the just sacred war of the Korean nation against the U.S. and the cause of Korea's reunification are certain to be achieved as long as there are the great leadership firmly defending the dignity and sovereignty of the nation, the invincible Songun banner and the great programmes for national reunification indicating the way ahead of the fellow countrymen. -0