PA: North Korea and Palestinians are victims of US
PA: North Korea and Palestinians are victims of US
- PA expresses identification and solidarity with North Korea and its human rights violating leader Kim Jong-un
- Korean official said the connection between North Korean leaders and Palestinian leaders is one of "comrades in arms, who have shared experience over the years"
by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik
According to the Palestinian Authority, both the Palestinian people and North Korea are victims of the United States. PA Minister of Foreign Affairs Riyad Al-Malki brought a letter of greetings for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un from PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, when he held high level meetings recently with North Korean leaders. Al-Malki said the letter expressed:
"A message of solidarity with the North Korean people in similar circumstances, in which international pressure is being applied to our two peoples by the US."
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Sept. 9, 2018]
The Korean leader added in turn that the connection between North Korean leaders and the PA leaders is "a connection between comrades in arms":
"[Kim Yong Dae] emphasized that the connection between the two states is a historical connection, which the eternal presidents [of North Korea] Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il established with Martyr [PA] President Yasser Arafat and with His Honor [PA] President Mahmoud Abbas. He added that on this firm basis the connection has developed uninterrupted over the years, as this is a connection between comrades in arms, who have shared experience over the years."
The PA reaffirmed its historical friendship a few weeks ago with the human rights violating North Korean leader, when Abbas again initiated contact with Kim Jong-un and congratulated him on the anniversary of the establishment of the Korean Workers' Party:
"[Abbas] expressed pride in the historical ties of friendship between the two states and the two peoples, [North] Korea's solidarity [with the Palestinians], and its positions that support our people's struggle."
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Oct. 11, 2018]
Palestinian Media Watch has documented the PA's warm relationship with North Korea and other countries specifically because of their mutual enmity towards the United States and the West, as well as the PA's statements against the US.
The following are longer excerpts from the reports quoted above:
Headline: "The [PA] president congratulates the president of North Korea on the anniversary of the establishment of the [Korean] Workers' Party"
"[PA] President Mahmoud Abbas congratulated North Korean President, Chairman of the Korean Workers' Party, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army Marshal Kim Jong-un yesterday [Oct. 10, 2018].
In his telegram, President [Abbas] expressed pride in the historical ties of friendship between the two states and the two peoples, [North] Korea's solidarity [with the Palestinians], and its positions that support our people's struggle to end the occupation and establish the independent state whose capital is East Jerusalem, the city of tolerance, coexistence, and peace."
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Oct. 11, 2018]
Headline: "Al-Malki met with the vice president of the presidium in the Democratic Republic of Korea"
"[PA] Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Riyad Al-Malki met with Deputy Head of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly Kim Yong Dae in the capital of Democratic People's Republic of Korea (i.e., North Korea), Pyongyang.
Al-Malki emphasized the depth of the historical relations between the two states and the shared history of liberation. He emphasized that the Palestinian leadership is careful to be together with the Korean people on this important occasion (i.e., the 70th anniversary of the establishment of North Korea). Al-Malki gave a letter from [PA] President [Mahmoud Abbas] to his North Korean colleague Marshal Kim Jong-un, and a symbolic gift expressing the Palestinian heritage and the role of the Palestinian woman in the struggle and in building the society.
Al-Malki said: 'His Honor the President's letter is a message of solidarity with the North Korean people in similar circumstances, in which international pressure is being applied to our two peoples by the US.' He expressed Palestine's willingness to share its experience in the different areas with the friend North Korea, including agricultural, medical, legal, and diplomatic experience. Kim gave heartfelt thanks for the participation of the Palestinian delegation led by He emphasized that the connection between the two states is a historical connection, which the eternal presidents [of North Korea] Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il established with Martyr (Shahid) [former PLO and PA] President Yasser Arafat and with His Honor [PA] President Mahmoud Abbas. He added that on this firm basis the connection has developed uninterrupted over the years, as this is a connection between comrades in arms, who have shared experience over the years.
Kim noted that Marshal Kim Jong-un is especially interested in developing the cooperation between the two states. He also noted the absolute support for the friend the Palestinian people and for the Palestinian cause, and emphasized the permanent position of North Korea, which continues to give aid to Palestine in the face of the Israeli and American pressures being applied to it."
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Sept. 9, 2018]