Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.
I’m Ko Young-hwan,
Special Advisor to the Minister of Unification. I would like to
congratulate you on the US Seminar of the Korea Global Forum. I will
now read the keynote speech on behalf of the Minister of Unification.
1.
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.
I would like to thank Seth Jones, the Senior Vice President at CSIS,
Ms. Roberta Cohen, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for
Human Rights, and Professor Kim Sangwoo and Ambassador for
International Cooperation on North Korean Human Rights Lee Shin-wha
who have travelled all the way from Korea.
I would also like to
thank all of you – both from Korea and the United States - for being
here despite your busy schedule.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the ROK-US Alliance as well
as the 70th year since the signing of the Korean War Armistice
Agreement.
As various events are being held to commemorate this
year, we are holding the Korea Global Forum in Washington today to
discuss solutions to the North Korean Problem and the cooperation
between the United States and Korea.
The ROK-US alliance is one of the strongest and most successful
alliances in the Asia-Pacific region.
Given the absence of multilateral security cooperation organizations
like NATO in Asia, the ROK-US alliance plays a key role in securing
peace and security in the region.
The Special alliance between the ROK and the United States has
continued to grow amidst instability and uncertainty in the
international order. The alliance has developed as a ‘Value Alliance’
not only for the sake of both countries, but also for the peace,
prosperity and development of the Korean Peninsula and of the World.
Based on the ironclad alliance, the United States worked together
with us on various issues including the denuclearization of North
Korea and improving human rights situation in the North. I would like
to use this opportunity to extend my deepest appreciation to our US
counterparts and look forward to the continued development of our alliance.
2.
Distinguished guests,
Today, the global security environment, including Northeast Asia is
becoming increasingly turbulent.
The US-China strategic rivalry is intensifying, Russia’s invasion
against Ukraine which triggered confrontation between blocks is
continuing, and the recent Israel-Hamas armed conflict has added
uncertainty to the existing turbulent of the international order.
Under existing environment, North Korea rejected ROK and the
International Community’s proposals for dialogue, advanced its WMD
capacities including nuclear and missile. Threatening peace of the
Korean Peninsula and the World.
The North Korean Regime has been neglecting difficulties of its
residents and the human rights catastrophe while developing their WMD
program with illegally acquired funds from cyber hacking, weapons
deal, maritime smuggling and other means.
Ministry of Unification is implementing three key policies to
resolve the North Korean problem. These three policies incudes
‘Solving North Korea’s Nuclear Issue,’ ‘Promoting Human Rights
Situation in North Korea,’ and ‘Preparing ourselves for Unification.’
We will take into account both the international order and North
Korea’s attitude when implementing such policies.
3.
Distinguished guests,
The North Korean nuclear issue still remains unsolved for over 30
years. The North Korean regime publicly claims that it has no other
choice but to pursue its nuclear and missile programs out of
self-defence against the hostile policy of the US and the Republic of
Korea. Yet, such ambition would only threaten the safety of the regime
itself and creates a ‘Security Dilemma’ of its own.
North Korea is taking advantage of the current international turmoil
and factional divisions. The North is strengthening its ties with
China and Russia in order to disrupt the international coordination
system for North Korea’s denuclearization.
The ROK government’s stance is clear that we do not desire to alter
status quo through force. Yet, we are committed to achieving
denuclearization of North Korea as well as to create peace and
prosperity on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and cooperation.
At the Camp David’s U.S.-Japan-Korea trilateral summit in August,
the three leaders agreed to work towards the complete denuclearization
of North Korea.
If North Korea makes a ‘wrong decision,’ we will immediately and
decisively deter North Korea through trilateral security cooperation.
We made it clear to North Korea that its nuclear and missile threats
and provocations achieve nothing. We need to create a strategic
environment where North Korea has no choice but to return to
denuclearization negotiations.
I have no doubt that if we continue to pressure and sanction North
Korea with the unilateral action of the international community with
its solid international coordination system, North Korea will have no
other option but to change.
The ROK government already proposed an ‘Audacious Initiative’ to
resolve North Korea’s nuclear issue.
The Audacious Initiative aims to create denuclearized, peaceful and
prosperous Korean Peninsula through simultaneous and phased economic,
political and military related corresponding measures from ROK inline
with North Korea’s actions for denulcearization.
I strongly urge North Korea to answer to our proposal for the
Audacious Initiative.
4.
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
As we may all agree, human rights is an universal value, and the
North Korean people are no exception.
The United States government has imposed unilateral sanctions on
individuals and organizations violating human rights of the North
Korean residents. The United Nations Human Rights Council has strongly
condemned grave and continuing human rights violation in North Korea.
The United States has been working on all fronts to improve human
rights situation in North Korea. The US Commission on International
Religious Freedom(USCIRF), through its annual report, proposed that
the State Department should redesignate North Korea as one of
Countries of Particular Concern.
I would like to express my
deepest appreciation to the US government and its people.
The Republic of Korea is now determined to take the lead in efforts
to promote human rights in North Korea.
The Yoon Suk Yeol administration sees human rights as an issue of
equal importance as the North Korean nuclear problem, and has made
various efforts to this end.
The ROK government has published its first annual report on human
rights in North Korea, returning as a sponsor of the UN resolution on
North Korean Human Rights and appointing an ambassador-at-large for
North Korean human rights.
The government is committed to plan and execute various actions with
international community for the betterment of the North Korean people.
Recently, number of North Korean residents including North Korean
defectors were repatriated back to North Korea from three northeastern
provinces of China.
I believe that the solidarity and cooperation of the international
community will be of great help in resolving these issues.
I hope that our various efforts will lead to results that
substantially advance the human rights of the people of North Korea. I
would like to ask for your continued interest and support.
5.
Ladies and gentlemen,
78 years have passed since Korea's unfortunate division in 1945. The
problems on the Korean Peninsula have their origins in the division.
Therefore, the fundamental resolution to the Korean Peninsula’s
problem can only be accomplished when two Koreas move beyond the
division to the unification .
Article 4 of the constitution of the Republic of Korea states that
“the Republic of Korea shall seek unification and shall formulate and
carry out a policy of peaceful unification based on the basic free and
democratic order.”
A peacefully unified Korean Peninsula based on the basic free and
democratic order will contribute significantly to the peace and
prosperity of Northeast Asia and the world.
The ROK government urge all countries sharing common values of
liberal democracy for their solidary and cooperation to support
unification of the Korean Peninsula.
The latest trilateral summit at the Camp David was meaningful, as
the leaders of the three states declared their support for the vision
of a "unified Korean Peninsula that is free and at peace.“
I have no doubt that the US and the international community will
also support our vision for peaceful unification based on freedom.
Today, the Korean government is hoping to build international
consensus around its vision of a "free, peaceful, and unified
Korean Peninsula" while accelerating preparations for unification internally.
While our path for unified Korean Peninsula based on universal
values and principles may take time, the ROK government will create
sustainable inter-Korean relations that is healthy, mutually
beneficial and on the right track.
The ROK government once again reiterate that we are open to
inter-Korean dialogue and humanitarian assistance to North Korea. If
North Korea genuinely returns to negotiation with their will for
denuclearization, we will resolve issues that both Koreas confronts
through dialogue.
6.
Dear Participants,
Hopefully, this year's KGF in the US will serve as a valuable forum
for much-needed discussions on the resolution of the North Korean
nuclear issue and the promotion of human rights in North Korea.
The Ministry of Unification will always keep an open ear to your
valuable opinions and make further efforts for international
solidarity for our vision for ‘unified Korean Peninsula that is free
and at peace.’
I would like to thank all of you, once again, for your participation
today, and request your continued interest in the Korean Peninsula.
Thank you for your attention.
