STATEMENT OF THE STAFFORDSHIRE BRANCH OF THE KOREAN FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION (UK) STOP RAF EXERCISES AIMES AT THE PEACE AND SECUIRTY OF THE DPRK AND HALT COPERATION WITH JAPANESE MILITARISM

It is with grave concern that we the friends of Korea, note the British Government has allowed itself to be a party to hostile actions against the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, in collaboration with the Japanese authorities. At time of increased tensions on the Korean peninsula for the Conservative Government to be engaging in military provocations against the DPRK, is both irresponsible and dangerous. The DPRK does not threaten the interests and the sovereignty of the United Kingdom and only wants productive mutual relations with Great Britain.
In the middle of October, Typhoon class fighter jets will participate in mock offensive exercises directed against targets in the DPRK. This fighter jet squadron from RAF Lossiemouth will be acting in conjunction with the airforce of the Japanese "Self Defence Force" These joint manoeuvres conducted by the air forces of Britain and Japan, operating from the Misawa Air Base in Northern Japan, have the clear goal of preparing for a pre-emptive strike against the DPRK.
It is truly distressing that the UK Government should choose
to be involved in the military ambitions of the Shino Abe Administration. In recent years the spectre of militarism has arisen again among the ruling circles of Japan, calling for the abandoning of the pacifist constitution and for re-arming the Japanese military forces. Japan has never formally apologized for the crimes committed during the Second War World and the Japanese leadership promoted the deeds of the war criminals interned at the Yasukuni Shrine. The Japanese Government has yet to acknowledge the villainy perpetrated upon the Korean people during its forty five year long occupation of Korea, the example of the Korean women sex slaves being a case for the Japanese Imperialists to answer for. The ideas of "East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere" are being revived in the political affairs of Japan and the neighbours of Japan in North East Asia are increasing apprehensive of the growth of Tokyo's colonial ambitions.
On reflection, the alliance which the Theresa May Government is forging with Japan is indeed tantamount to the condoning of Japanese expansionism. The UK Government seeks to develop military ties with the descendants of those who committed war crimes upon members of the British armed forces and British civilians. It is worth noting that out of the 50,000 British prisoners of war held by the Japanese forces during World War Two, 12,433 died in Japanese dentation camps. The most infamous case being the POWs forced to build the Burma Railway. Great Britain must not repeat the sorry and regrettable episode when it dispatched its troops to the frontline of the Korean War (1950-53). Instead joining an Anti-DPRK crusade, the British State should make a sincere amends for its injustices made against the Korean people during the Korean War.
The Staffordshire Branch of the UK Korean Friendship Association calls upon the Labour, Anti-Imperialist and Peace Movements to protest this aggressive move made by the British Government towards the DPRK. We the Friends of Korea demand that the Government stop wasting taxpayers' money, halt these military manoeuvres with the Japanese Militarists immediately and recall the Royal Air Force unit in question back to the UK. The British Government should terminate all hostile acts against the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea and work for better relations with Peoples Korea, strive for peace and reunification upon the Korean Peninsula!!
KOREA IS ONE!!!
STOP WAR IN KOREA!!
Issued by the Staffordshire Branch of the Korean Friendship Association (UK)
Stoke On Trent
Staffordshire UK
04.10.2016