Mass rally in Pyongyang denounces 'U.S. imperialists'

SEOUL, June 26 (UPI) -- North Korea vowed to struggle against the United States on Thursday, the 65th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War.

In its "Pyongyang Mass Rally on the Day of the Struggle Against the U.S.," around 100,000 North Koreans gathered at Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung Stadium to show support for the country's nuclear development program, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.

State-operated media network KCNA broadcast the rally that featured North Koreans in civilian clothing, shouting slogans in unison and holding cloth banners that vowed revenge against "U.S. imperialists."

North and South Korea both observe the anniversary of the Korean War, but Pyongyang's history of the war differs remarkably from what is commonly known among U.S. and South Korean historians.

On Tuesday North Korea blasted the United States and South Korea for masterminding the Korean War, a day ahead of the conflict's 65th anniversary on Thursday.

North Korea claims the U.S. began the armed conflict by invading north of the 38th parallel – a story that lacks historical basis and conceals the fact Kim Il Sung ordered troops to cross into the South and overtake Seoul.

The rally on Thursday included speeches about self-reliance and the importance of the country's "Byungjin," or parallel development policy that could "relentlessly strengthen" the country's military power, according to Cha Hee Rim, the chair of Pyongyang's People's Committee.

Cha said 10 million North Korean soldiers are boiling over with rage at the thought of "U.S. imperialists and their South Korean running dogs" who "invaded 65 years ago" are showing signs of provoking another war.

"The United States is running around madly, stubbornly pursuing ways to provoke a new war," Cha said.

Neither did Pak Song Cho, the chairman of Kim Il Sung University's Youth Alliance mince his words when addressing North Korea's foes.

"If the U.S. imperialists and its puppets at any time even send a spark our way, five million guns and bombs will be used, and not a single bastard will be left alive."

South Korean television network KBS reported North Korea has designated the weeks between June 25 and July 27 as "June 25 Month of Anti-U.S. Struggle."