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 Korea (CPRK) is a North Korean organisation aimed at promoting Korean reunification.
Contents
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. 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.
Membership
Past vice-chairmen of the CPRF include: