The statement also urged the Korean authorities to deal sternly with the students involved in the demonstration. It went on to say that the US 8th Army strongly supports peaceful rallies, the freedom of expression and the right to voice differing opinions, but that the army expects the Korean government to punish criminal students to the full extent of the law.

It is highly unusual for the US Army to urge Korean government authorities to hand down strong punitive measures on Koreans who rally illegally.

Meanwhile, the Korean Ministry of National Defense issued an official comment on the rallies, saying the illegal entrance into US military facilities in Korea is a serious crime. The ministry expressed its deep concern over the students' hazardous acts to against U.S. personnel and equipment.

The ministry added that the illegal acts by the students would not be accepted no matter the reason, and should never happen again.

In addition, a high-ranking official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said that Hanchongryon has consistently resorted to violence to achieve its goals, and the burning the flag of the United States, which would seriously undermine Korea-U.S. relations.

The Korean Veteran's Association said the student rallies were serious anti-government acts that threatened national security. The association called for the government to punish the students and rally organizers as harshly as possible.

Members of Hanchongryon, the outlawed Federation of Korean University Student Associations, staged simultaneous anti-American rallies at US Army camps throughout the country Thursday afternoon, throwing paint and burning the United States flag.

Twelve member students of the dissident group held a demonstration in front of a firing range belonging to the US Eight Army in Yeongpyung, Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, at 4:55 p.m. Thursday. The students wore the Korean flag as bandannas and erected a placard, demanding that the U.S. Army immediately stop threatening to make war on the Korean peninsula. The students pumped their fists in the air as they chanted a demand that the U.S. withdraw from Korea.

The students then rushed as far as 50 meters into the camp, which was guarded by a contract security firm. The students climbed onto a military vehicle and shouted their opposition to war in Korea.

At about 6:15 p.m. the students were chased away from the camp by about 100 US soldiers in the 2nd Infantry Division and were immediately held by Korean police officers.

According to the police, U.S. soldiers under the 2nd Infantry Division have been training at the Yeongpyeong firing range, including a platoon of 65 soldiers and six armored vehicles, with the Stryker, the military's new armored personnel carrier, since July 31. The platoon had moved to another location away from the firing range by Wednesday afternoon.

At around 2:20 p.m., about 30 Hanchongryon members threw bottles filled with red paint at the gates of the U.S. Far East Engineering Corp. near Tongdaemoon, Seoul. The students demonstrated in front of the gate, although six were carried away by the police.

In addition, about 260 Hanchongryon students marched toward the K-6 US Air Force base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, at around 2 p.m. In Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, about 250 Hanchongryon members marched in the streets in groups of 10 to 20 students, passing out anti-American leaflets.

Meanwhile, the outlawed student alliance carried on its Internet home page a message, demanding that the United States immediately stop war games in preparation to attack North Korea, including having the Stryker brigade train in Korea. The statement also said that the United States must sign a non-aggression pact with North Korea.

Police said they would begin judicial procedures on the 18 students arrested. (Ahn Seok-bae, sbahn@chosun.com ) and (Yoo Yong-won, kysu@chosun.com )