Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland

Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland
Chosŏn'gŭl 조국평화통일위원회
Hancha 祖國平和統一委員會
Revised Romanization Joguk Pyeonghwa Tong-il Wiwonhoe
McCune–Reischauer Choguk P'yŏnghwa T'ong'il Wiwŏnhoi

The Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland (CPRF) is a North Korean organisation aimed at promoting Korean reunification.

Overview

The CPRF is not a governmental body per se but rather an offshoot of the Workers' Party's United Front Department; the distinction is intended to emphasise the North Korean government's position that the Southern government is illegitimate and should not be dealt with by official bodies.[1] It was established on 13 May 1961 as part of Pyongyang's ongoing response to the South Korean April Revolution of the preceding year which had resulted in Rhee Syng-man's resignation. The mere announcement of the CPRF's creation is believed to have exacerbated political instability in the South and to have contributed to the success of Park Chung-hee's coup three days later. In the aftermath of the Committee's creation, Pyongyang's reunification policy took a sharp turn towards violent means aimed at provoking the Southern government and inciting an internal Communist revolution there; Pyongyang concluded further military agreements with China and the Soviet Union, captured the USS Pueblo, attempted to assassinate Park Chung-hee in 1968 in what became known as the Blue House Raid, and shot down an American aircraft the following year.[2]

Membership

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Past vice-chairmen of the CPRF include:

References

  1. Oh, Kong-Dan; Hessig, Ralph (2002). Korea Briefing 2000–2001: First Steps Toward Reconciliation and Reunification. M.E. Sharpe. p. 265. ISBN 9780765609540.
  2. Hwang, K. (1980). The Neutralized-unification of Korea in Perspective. Transaction Publishers. p. 89. ISBN 9781412829519.
  3. "Choi Duk Shin, 75, Ex-South Korean Envoy". The New York Times. 1989-11-19. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
  4. Len, Samuel (2003-10-28). "Pyongyang official dies of crash injuries". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
  5. "S. Korean president meets DPRK officials". People's Daily. 2005-08-17. Retrieved 2013-05-28.