Earlier, at 5 p.m., about 15,000 activists assembled, many of them from the left-wing teachers, outlawed student group Hanchongryun. After a ceremony, they marched north toward the U.S. Embassy in Gwanghwamun. The civic group that organized the assembly called for the Status of Forces Agreement, which governs legal affairs involving U.S. troops here, to be revised without delay.

The police had mobilized 12,000 riot personnel to prevent disorder, and security was also beefed up near the U.S. base in Yongsan and the U.S. Embassy.

Assemblies were also held in other cities, including Busan, Gwangju, and Daejeon, as well as in 14 places in 5 other nations.

Earlier, U.S. military officials held ceremonies to mourn the deaths of the girls. Two hundred people, including U.S. Ambassador Thomas Hubbard and USFK Commander Leon J. LaPorte, participated in a commemoration ceremony at the Yongsan base. In Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi province, the U.S. Second Infantry Division, led by Major General John Wood, also held a memorial ceremony. (Yeom Kang-su ksyoum@chosun.com ) An estimated 25,000 people from 65 regions across the nation gathered Friday in front of Seoul City Hall to commemorate the death of two middle school students a year ago. The two were killed by a U.S. military vehicle in a road accident on June 13 a year ago.

Earlier, at 5 p.m., about 15,000 activists assembled, many of them from the left-wing teachers, outlawed student group Hanchongryun. After a ceremony, they marched north toward the U.S. Embassy in Gwanghwamun. The civic group that organized the assembly called for the Status of Forces Agreement, which governs legal affairs involving U.S. troops here, to be revised without delay.

The police had mobilized 12,000 riot personnel to prevent disorder, and security was also beefed up near the U.S. base in Yongsan and the U.S. Embassy.

Assemblies were also held in other cities, including Busan, Gwangju, and Daejeon, as well as in 14 places in 5 other nations.

Earlier, U.S. military officials held ceremonies to mourn the deaths of the girls. Two hundred people, including U.S. Ambassador Thomas Hubbard and USFK Commander Leon J. LaPorte, participated in a commemoration ceremony at the Yongsan base. In Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi province, the U.S. Second Infantry Division, led by Major General John Wood, also held a memorial ceremony. (Yeom Kang-su ksyoum@chosun.com )