By Eun Jong Chol
Rodong Sinmun
August 15, 2007

Pyongyang -- Nearly a month has passed since 20 odd south Korean civilians were abducted by Taliban militants in Afghanistan. Some hostages were mercilessly killed and others are eagerly waiting for a helping hand, suffering from illness and in fear of death.

The U.S. is entirely to blame for the case.

Such tragic case would not have occurred if the U.S. had not launched the brigandish "war on terrorism" in Afghanistan and introduced south Korea into there to meet its own interests of domination and greed.

After the occurrence of the case, the families of the victims and other people from all walks of life in south Korea ardently appealed to the U.S. to actively come out for the settlement of the problem. However, the U.S. is coolly turning aside from the case, while repeatedly calling for "not making any compromise with terrorism."

This proves that the U.S. talk about "alliance" and "friendly country" is false and it takes no account of the misfortune suffered by the south Korean people. The U.S. egoistic and arrogant nature and its policy of despising south Korea are evidenced again by the case.

Such lamenting reality in which the Koreans are sacrificed for the interests of the outsiders can never be tolerated. It is only too natural that south Korean people from all walks of life are now holding the U.S. chiefly responsible for the case and asserting that independence against the U.S. is the way for settling the problem.

Full text in Korean