Today the international situation is tense and complicated as never before. In the Asia-Pacific region, various confrontation entities form an encircling net to threaten and blackmail regional powers and, in East Europe and the Middle East, armed conflicts are ceaselessly occurring by the U.S. and Western countries’ tricks, undisguised intervention and patronage.

And discords and frictions are aggravated extremely on the voting issue of various resolutions submitted to the UN as regards the world peace and security at the UN arena.

When the international situation is considered from all angles, its character is that the conflict and opposition between the reactionary forces of imperialism for the purpose of securing domination and the countries trying to defend their national interests are becoming very acute and the decline and fall of the imperialist forces and reactionary forces headed by the United States are accelerating in the confrontation between the forces of independence and the forces of dominationism.

No matter how desperately the imperialists may try, the struggle for independence against imperialism is being waged more actively and vigorously.

It is the trend of the times to drive out the imperialist aggressors and try to enforce the independent policy.

In the countries which allow the stationing of armed forces of imperialist states, they are bound to be reduced to puppet forces obeying the realization of their policies on aggression and domination. In order to defend the sovereignty and the benefits of the state and people, establishment of independent government and the enforcement of independent politics should be realized from A to Z, and to this end, the imperialist aggressive forces should be withdrawn preferentially.

The reason why various countries strongly urge the U.S. and other imperialist states to withdraw their armed forces is to regain the independence and dignity and realize the people’s genuine wellbeing.

And it is another trend to achieve its own development while resolutely facing down with the imperialists’ interference in internal affairs and various threats, blackmail and pressure.

It is an eye-opening trend of the present times to counter the imperialists’ policy of strength and line of confrontation with strengthening of national defense power.

Without the strong national defense, it is impossible to discuss about self-defense and the sovereignty and dignity can never be defended if it is weak.

Anti-imperialist independence has become a main current of the present times that can never be checked with anything and the stronger the trend, the earlier the end of imperialism will be brought.

Rodong Sinmun