On April 25, the world anti-imperialist joint struggle—titled “Overthrow Imperialism, the Culprit of World War 3! Realize Anti-Imperialist Peace!”—was held in front of US Base Camp Walker in Daegu, ‘Republic of Korea (ROK),’ hosted by the World Anti-Imperialist Platform, the Anti-US Struggle Headquarters, and the Jaju-Minhoe (Association for Independent People).
The Secretary General of the Chung-nam Provincial Committee of the People’s Democracy Party (PDP), who moderated the event, stated, “Imperialist aggressor forces are running amok to escalate World War 3 into full-scale. The imperialist aggressor forces, including the USA, are extremely provoking China by conducting ‘Balikatan,’ an anti-China aggression exercise, as the largest-ever multi-domain operation in the Indo-Pacific region since April 20.”
The moderator continued, “Furthermore, NATO, the headquarters of World War 3, is taking the lead in transforming the ‘ROK’ and Japan into bases for aggression against the DPRK and China, plotting for the wars in. Taiwan and the ‘ROK’—in other words, an East Asian War. Let us overthrow imperialism through the anti-US and anti-imperialist struggle, and realize a new world of true peace by removing the US imperialist aggressor forces and their bases.
The participants powerfully shouted slogans such as “Let Us Overthrow Imperialism, the Culprit of World War 3!”, “Let Us Overthrow Imperialism, Which Causes Aggression Wars and Economic Ruin!”, “Let Us Overthrow Imperialism Through International Solidarity in the Anti-Imperialist Struggle!”, “Strongly Oppose the Deployment of Troops to the Imperialist Aggression War on Iran!”, and “Withdraw the US Imperialist Aggressor Forces!
Lee Jeok, the Standing Representative of the Anti-US Struggle Headquarters emphasized, “What did the US commander say yesterday? He stated that the goal for the transition of wartime operational control (OPCON) would be reached by 2029. This literally means they will only grant OPCON to this land once the conditions desired by the USA are met. Where else on earth is there a country that lacks wartime operational control?” He continued, “This US base exists for the defense of the USA, not for the defense of our country. A war between China and the USA is right before our eyes. Do you realize that if a war breaks out, Chinese missiles will fly directly toward Daegu? To avoid being hit by Chinese missiles, we must drive out these US missiles.”
Furthermore, he shouted, “The USA claimed they built the THAAD base in Seongju to protect our country. However, when the conflict with Iran broke out this time, they uprooted the entire THAAD system and dragged it to that battlefield. Why would they take the THAAD, which they said protects our country, to the Iranian battlefield?” He added, “Countries with US bases suffer from war damage all the same. The citizens of Daegu must realize that if a war breaks out, Daegu and Pyeongtaek will be the first to become cities of death. As long as this US base remains, you will be forced to become cannon fodder for the USA. Break free from the shackles of Park Chung-hee’s ghost. Only then will Daegu be fully preserved.”
Nam San, the Representative of Jaju-Minhoe denounced, “Countless of our predecessor martyrs fell here, and bodies are still rotting in the Gyeongsan Cobalt Mine. The spirits of numerous victims haunt Apsan and Gachanggol.” He continued, “The US and Israeli imperialists bombed Iran during negotiations, massacring thousands of civilians and destroying the lives of the Iranian people. If the war is prolonged, the economy of the ‘ROK’, which depends on West Asian oil for more than 70%, may explode due to skyrocketing prices, bankruptcy, and unemployment. It will face an economic crisis. Nevertheless, the capital, power, and major media outlets including Chosun, JoongAng, and Dong-A in the ‘ROK,’ occupied for 80 years, are brazenly misrepresenting the imperialist aggression and massacres, hiding the truth and treating the people as targets for brainwashing.”
He further stated, “If the flames of the West Asian war spread to East Asia, it is obvious that more than 60 US bases and surrounding urban areas across the ‘ROK’ will become a sea of fire. US bases are the seeds of war and the axis of evil that threaten world peace. 80 years have passed since the occupying US military entered on September 8, 1945. Imperialism is precisely what divides this land, blinding and silencing the people through a system of division and war.” He emphasized, “If the Lee Jae-myung government deceives the people and dares to deploy ‘ROK’ troops to Iran, it will be participating in an aggression war and will face the iron hammer of the people. The only way for the ‘ROK’ people to navigate the economic time bomb approaching due to the US aggression war is the single path of independence—opposing imperialist aggression and shouting for independent, peaceful reunification.”
Han Myeong-hui, the Chairperson of the People’s Democracy Party (PDP), pointed out, “Recently, Xavier Brunson, the commander of US Forces Korea (USFK), stated at a US Senate Armed Services Committee hearing regarding the transition of wartime operational control (OPCON) that ‘political convenience should not outpace conditions.’ This is equivalent to saying that OPCON will not be granted until the completion of a US-led multinational force and a subcontracted military for the USA. In short, it confirmed that the ‘ROK’ is nothing more than a colony of the USA.” She continued, “Currently, USFK is pushing for a Regional Sustainment Node (RSN) to support the US Indo-Pacific Command. Camp Walker is the place that plays a key role in transforming the ‘ROK’ into a logistics base. It is only right that all US bases, including Camp Walker, be withdrawed immediately.
She further noted, “On April 13, a delegation of 30 NATO ambassadors visited the ‘ROK.’ The core agenda was the technical and institutional integration of ‘ROK’s’ air defense network with the NATO integrated missile defense system. The dangerous war plots of the imperialist NATO—aiming to solidify the transformation of the ‘ROK’ into a logistics base, subordinate the ‘ROK’ military into a multinational allied force, spread the flames of the Iranian and West Asian wars to East Asia, and full-scale escalation of World War 3—are becoming a terrifying reality.” She resolved, “Whether it is deploying troops to the Iranian war or collaborating with NATO, the imperialist war machine, it is not the path for the ‘ROK’ government. Protecting the lives, dignity, survival, and development of the people begins with recovering sovereignty. That path is the path to overthrowing imperialism. It is the path to removing the US military from this land through the anti-US and anti-imperialist struggle. We will struggle powerfully until the day we withdraw the US military from this land and realize a new world of people’s democracy.”
After releasing the statement “Let Us Overthrow Imperialism Which Provokes World War 3!”, the participants sang “The International.” Following the rally, the participants marched around the area of US Base Camp Walker in Daegu.
