Talks between Delegates of Chongryon and Mindan Held

Talks between Delegates of Chongryon and Mindan Held

Talks between delegates of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) and the south Korean Residents Association in Japan (Mindan) took place at the Korean Hall in Tokyo on May 17.
Chairman of the Chongryon Central Standing Committee So Man Sul and Head of the Mindan Central Headquarters Ha Pyong Ok made speeches at the talks.

A May 17 joint statement of Chongryon and Mindan was adopted.

Chongryon and Mindan affirmed each other that they would surely convert the long-standing antagonism and confrontation between the two organizations into reconciliation and concord in conformity with the trend of national history advancing toward national unity and reunification in the idea of "By our nation itself", the main spirit of the June 15 joint declaration, the joint statement said, and went on:

Expressing their will to successfully build a harmonious and abundant Korean community in Japan in conformity with the requirements of the new era and the desire of compatriots so as to make a great contribution to the national cause for the reunification and prosperity of the country in the 21st century, Chongryon and Mindan agreed as follows:

1. Chongryon and Mindan decided to achieve reconciliation and concord of the two organizations and pool efforts and cooperate with each other for the national unity of the Korean community in Japan.

2. Chongryon and Mindan decided to take an active part in the national movement for implementing the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration and participate in the June 15 grand festival for national reunification as members of a delegation of the Japan Regional Committee.

3. Chongryon and Mindan decided to jointly open a festival for commemoration of August 15.

4. Chongryon and Mindan decided to take a serious view of the reality of dilution and loss of national identity growing in the Korean community in Japan at present and make joint efforts for the education of the new generation, promotion of national culture and others to preserve and display national identity.

5. Chongryon and Mindan decided to cooperate with each other to expand all welfare activity and the defence of rights and interests including measures against the aging and birthrate decrease of the Korean community in Japan.

6. Chongryon and Mindan decided to establish channels and consult often with a view to implementing the above-said agreed points and settling the problems to be raised between the two organizations.