Workers Party of Belgium Supports “Expedition Against North Korean Human Rights”

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Unification Solidarity decided to dispatch an “Expedition Against North Korean Human Rights” in order to take an action against the 3rd International Conference for North Korean Human Rights which will be held on the 22nd in Belgium. Now, it has been revealed that the Workers Party of Belgium (Parti Travailiste Belge) decided to support them, which makes one wonder about the identity of the party.

Kim Sung Ran, the director of foreign relations at Unification Solidarity said, “We decided to carry out the activities together because we agree on the purpose of the expedition. They will help us with difficulties there, rather than financial difficulties,” in the phone interview with DailyNK on the 14th.

Kim said, “Individuals in the team will cover their own expenses and the Party will not be providing any financial assistance.”

The Workers Party of Belgium clarified that their ideological direction is toward communism. Also, they clarified that they were communists. It is contrary to the socialist parties in Western Europe these days, which have created the Third Way for practicality.

According to the 2003 report by KOTRA, Brussels, Workers Party of Belgium does not even have one seat in the Parliament (Both Senate and the Lower Chamber). In order to run to be a congressman, more than 5000 signatures are required. Therefore, it means that the party does not receive any support at all.

They cannot function as a party, and they do not have any voice in the media. KOTRA said that they are using their website to express their opinions.

Hwang Jang Yop, former International Secretary of Chosun Workers’ Party in North Korea met with the chairman of the Workers Party of Belgium in June 1994, in Pyongyang, with Kim Il Sung. He remembers the exact date of the meeting, and he said, “It seemed like their ideological identity was in Stalinism. If they are democratic, there would be no reason for them to build solidarity with North Korea.”

Hwang said, “Because they were very small and not very influential, the North Korean government did not care for them very much. There are all kinds of people in the world. There is no need to pay attention.”

The Workers Party of Belgium has put up articles related to North Korea since 2000. In July2003, they visited North Korea with 47 others from the Communist Party, Christian Socialist Party, Socialist Party. After the trip, they said, “During our visit to North Korea, we met North Koreans who were grounded and we could learn socialistic ideologies from them.”

They also said, “North Koreans work hard, but they also dance and sing. On Sundays, they go out to the riverside or Mt. Myohyang with their family members and have picnics.”

Regarding the North Korean nuclear issue, they have stated that the United States is responsible, saying that “North Korea does not need to observe the treaty when the other side is in violation of the treaty.”

Personnel of the Steering Committee for the Brussels Conference said, “No real activities are caught in the field. We are working on cooperating with the police and EU for the demonstrations.”