KCNA refutes Powell's remarks on religious freedom
KCNA
Pyongyang, March 17 (KCNA) -- U.S. Secretary of State Powell on March 5 listed six countries such as the DPRK, China, Iran, Iraq, Myanmar and Sudan as "countries arousing special concern" because of their suppression of religious freedom.
Recalling that those countries were also listed as such last year, he claimed that "religious freedom has not improved in the countries since then".
As an expression of the U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK his assertion is nothing but sophism intended to invent a pretext for impairing the image of its system and stifle and isolate it at any cost.
As stipulated in the DPRK's socialist constitution a citizen's religious freedom is fully guaranteed by law and even American religious leaders recognized it while witnessing the reality of the DPRK.
It is only the United States that made religion a plaything of politics and is suppressing true freedom of religious belief.
There are too many to cite as examples.
Before the liberation of Korea American missionaries made their way to Korea to engage themselves in espionage and plot-breeding and seek their own interests, while deceiving its people. During the Korean War the U.S. bombers indiscriminately destroyed even religious buildings.
The suppression of other nations and their religion got more serious in the United States.
It is widely known to the world that since the "September 11 Incident" not only foreigners but citizens of the United States have become targets of constant watch and suppression by fib and other intelligence and investigation institutions for the mere reason that they are Arabs and Muslims.
Self-styled scholars are openly spreading wrong assertions aimed at fanning up confrontation and conflicts between nations and religions under the signboard of "clash between diverse forms of civilization" and wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are described as "crusade" and "holy wars".
This is the reality of the U.S. The United States has the poorest human rights record. It is, therefore, ridiculous and shameless for the U.S. to meddle in internal affairs of other countries over the religious issue.
The United States is well advised to mind its own business instead of pulling up other countries over "religious freedom" only to meet their rebuff.
