North Korea Joins Cargo Solidarity Strike: "Clear Labor Oppression"

North Korea Criticizes President Yoon by Name Over Work Resumption Order
Controversy on Minno Website 'Chosun Job Federation Solidarity Speech'
Political Circles Suspect It Represents North Korea, Not Workers

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] North Korea has joined the transportation refusal strike led by the Cargo Solidarity Headquarters of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union (KPTU). North Korea has incited by calling President Yoon Seok-yeol a "dictator" and raising voices for impeachment over the work commencement order. Some political circles are also criticizing the KPTU leadership for taking positions aligned with the North Korean regime at every turn.

On the afternoon of the 2nd, marking the 9th day of the Cargo Solidarity general strike, a Cargo Solidarity full-scale struggle resolution rally is being held in front of the main gate of Kumho Tire Gwangju Plant in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 5th, North Korea's external propaganda media Uriminzokkiri reported under the headline "Strong Opposition to the Work Commencement Order by the Traitorous Faction of Yoon Seok-yeol in South Korea," stating, "The KPTU and its affiliated organizations such as the Public Transport Workers' Union and Cargo Solidarity strongly criticized the work commencement order issued by the traitorous faction of Yoon Seok-yeol, releasing consecutive statements saying 'the door to dictatorship has opened and martial law has been declared,' and calling it 'clear labor oppression.'"

It continued, "Various sectors are also strongly condemning and denouncing, saying 'the dictator Yoon Seok-yeol is beginning to oppress not only the opposition parties but also the people,' and are expressing anger with calls to 'issue a work stoppage order to Yoon Seok-yeol and impeach him quickly.'" It also claimed, based on "reports from South Korean media," that various sectors including labor are strongly opposing President Yoon's work commencement order, and that the conflict between labor and government is expanding into a struggle between the people and the government.

This is interpreted as an attempt to incite anti-government struggles by exploiting internal conflicts within South Korean society. North Korea has repeatedly stirred up inter-Korean conflicts and used them to promote shifts in South Korea's North Korea policy whenever opportunities arose.

Representatives from the National People's Action, Seoul People's Action, and the Seoul Headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions are holding a large-scale march from near Seoul Station to Gwanghwamun on the afternoon of November 26, demanding condemnation of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, opposition to the South Korea-U.S.-Japan military alliance, and the cessation of hostile policies toward North Korea.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

As North Korea incites using the 'Cargo Solidarity transportation refusal' as a trigger, some political circles are pointing out links between the North Korean regime and the KPTU leadership. The issue centers on a solidarity message from the Central Committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea posted on the KPTU website.

Park Jeong-ha, senior spokesperson for the People Power Party, criticized on the 4th, saying, "They should just change their name to 'Minrocho' (a play on words combining 'Minju' and 'Rocho' from North Korea)." Park said, "On the KPTU website, a document titled 'Solidarity Message to Minrocho' from North Korea's General Federation of Trade Unions is openly posted, and recently they have suddenly declared they will continue the struggle until the National Security Law is abolished," adding, "It is enough to make one suspect that this is a group representing North Korea rather than workers."

The solidarity message was posted in August. At that time, the KPTU caused controversy by reading solidarity messages and joint resolutions at the August 15 National Workers' Rally that included demands such as the withdrawal of U.S. troops and the dismantling of the South Korea-U.S. alliance. The General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea is an external organization of the Workers' Party of Korea, defined in North Korea as "the party's assistant fighting to complete the revolutionary cause led by Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il."

On the 2nd, the 9th day of the Cargo Solidarity general strike, containers are piled up at Busan Port's Sinsundae Pier. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, in early last month, the KPTU issued a statement regarding the large-scale South Korea-U.S. joint air exercise "Vigilant Storm," saying, "Even while the whole country is mourning the Itaewon tragedy, the South Korea-U.S. authorities pushed ahead with the joint military exercise 'Vigilant Storm,' a preemptive strike war exercise," and stated, "The primary culprits who created the current war crisis on the Korean Peninsula are the U.S. and the Yoon Seok-yeol administration that follows the U.S.'s hostile policy toward North Korea."

Vigilant Storm is an annual exercise, and both military authorities and the U.S. White House have emphasized that it is a "defensive exercise." The term "war exercise," which contradicts this, was mainly used by North Korea, which repeatedly conducted missile provocations during the exercise period.

The president's remarks are not unrelated to this context. President Yoon reportedly said in a recent closed-door meeting with aides, targeting the Cargo Solidarity collective transportation refusal incident, that it is "like North Korea's nuclear threat." This is interpreted as expressing the view that just as the people's safety and property must be protected from North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, the national economy and people's livelihood must be protected from "illegal strikes."

Meanwhile, the KPTU has announced a nationwide simultaneous general strike on the 6th. The Cargo Solidarity plans to continue full-scale struggle until their demands are accepted.