Excerpts from the State of the Nation Address by President Roh Moo-hyun Presented to the 262nd Regular Session of the National Assembly
We are now facing a grave challenge to peace on the Korean Peninsula. That is because North Korea conducted a nuclear test after all despite strong objections and warnings from the Republic of Korea as well as the international community.
Peace on the Korean Peninsula can never coexist with nuclear weapons. North Korea's nuclear test on October 9 was an intolerable provocation that dashed the hopes of Koreans and the international community for the denuclearization of the Peninsula.
North Korea's nuclear test was a foolish act indeed. North Korea cannot accomplish anything they hoped to obtain through the nuclear test.
On the contrary, the nuclear arsenal will only jeopardize the stability of the North Korean regime and bring about severe economic difficulties.
In addition, North Korea's nuclear test jeopardizes the coexistence of two Koreas by violating the Joint Declaration of the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in 1991 and the spirit of the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration of 2000.
Turning a deaf ear to the voice of the international community, North Korea pushed ahead with the nuclear test, which will bring them nothing but their own isolation with the intensified sanctions by the UN and countries around the world.
North Korea should never possess a nuclear arsenal under any circumstances. They must scrap all nuclear weapons and the related program promptly.
Dismantling the nuclear program is the fundamental and ultimate way to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue.
Working with the international community, the Korean Government will exert its utmost efforts to have the North Korean nuclear program dismantled.
The Government respects and will continue to implement the UN Security Council's Resolution concerning North Korea's nuclear test. To ensure the faithful compliance with the UN Resolution, the Government has undertaken the process of examining and updating, as necessary, all relevant laws and regulations.
Apart from complying with the UN Resolution, the Government has already been taking stern measures in response to North Korea's nuclear test, including sustaining the suspension of humanitarian aid to the North, which went into force after Pyongyang launched missiles in July, and putting government-level economic cooperation on hold.
Fellow citizens,
The crisis on the Korean Peninsula caused by North Korea's nuclear test must be resolved in a peaceful manner by all means. For peace is a paramount value preceding any other consideration.
Some argue that we should not shy away from going to war, which is truly irresponsible and dangerous. War on the Korean Peninsula would bring about a disaster of collective destruction for all Korean people where neither a winner nor a loser exists. Every Korean knows this. The resolute principle of the Government is that war should never take place again on the Korean Peninsula.
The ultimate objective of trying to solve the nuclear issue lies in ensuring peace and prosperity on the Peninsula.
Fellow Koreans,
If peace crumbles, there can be no future for the national economy. The Participatory Government will continue to regard peace as the utmost value and will strive for the continuing development of the national economy.
The Government will maintain the Gumgangsan tourism and the Gaeseong Industrial Complex projects in a direction that is compatible with the spirit and objective of the UN Security Council Resolution. These programs are symbols of peace and stability on the Peninsula.
Of particular note is the fact that Gaeseong, which used to be a key military base for North Korea, is now being turned into a center of economic cooperation between the two Koreas.
This represents a tremendous change. The Gaeseong Industrial Complex serves a very important role in that it not only offers a lifeline for small- and medium-sized industries of the South but also directing the North to openness by passing on the South's experience in a market economy.
Under no circumstance can we cut the channel of dialogue with the North. The Government may adjust the speed and scope of its policies but will continue to maintain the big framework and basic principles of the policy of peace and prosperity.
Recently, Pyongyang has decided to return to the Six-Party Talks. However, the prospects for the talks may not always be smooth. It will require diverse procedures and take a long time before the nuclear issue is resolved completely.
I pay tribute and bow my head to the nation for their demonstration of wise and mature conduct as well as good citizenship since the North carried out its nuclear test.
Without the slightest wavering, the Government will remain patient and make best efforts based on the principles of public safety, economic development, and safeguarding peace on the Korean Peninsula.
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Fellow Koreans,
Market opening is an inevitable trend around the world. Throughout history, nations that opened their borders have had their share of successes and failures, but no closed economy has ever reaped the fruit of success to date. Openness has been the main driving force that has boosted Korea to around the 10th largest economy.
The Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is a strategic choice for Korea of the 21st century to join the ranks of the advanced countries. The FTA with the United States will help Korea gain stable access to the world's largest market, and at the same time, upgrade its economic structure by sharpening the competitive edge of the service industry. All this will serve as a good opportunity leading to the creation of decent quality jobs.
Despite opposition and uneasiness swirling around the Korea-U.S. FTA, I believe that the Korean people are capable of achieving success in the end. The history of liberalization in the past is clearly on Korea's side.
With regard to some industries that may face difficulties because of market opening, including agriculture, the Government has already begun undertaking measures to enhance their competitiveness and to innovate systems. The Government is also in the process of preparing additional measures to supplement this ongoing effort.
Korea and the United States have held four rounds of negotiations and made progress toward reaching agreement on the basic principles that govern the concession list as well as the reservations list of non-conforming measures. However, there is still a long road ahead to resolve the remaining issues.
The Government will do its best to bring the FTA to conclusion at an early date by all means.
However, under no circumstance, will we make concessions on important matters just to meet the target date. The negotiation process will be disclosed sufficiently through the FTA Special Committee installed within the National Assembly as the central channel.
I much appreciate that the National Assembly has made strenuous efforts in this regard. I would like to request the National Assembly to play an even more proactive role in the future so that the FTA negotiations will be brought to successful conclusion.
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National defense reform, too, has long been discussed publicly since the 1980s.
Now is the time to lay a solid systematic foundation for defense reform through legislation. Only then can the country enhance its capabilities for self-reliant defense to be prepared for any contingency.
More than anything else, it is most remarkable that the current reform bills have been prepared under the initiative of the armed forces themselves. The ruling and opposition parties had already agreed to pass the bills but the procedure has been delayed somehow.
* * * * * * *
Members of the National Assembly,
Now I would like to address the direction of the Government's administration for next year by each sector.
* * * * * * *
Next, I would like to address diplomacy and security affairs.
The ROK-U.S. alliance is solid now and will continue to be so in the years to come.
At the Korea-U.S. summit held in September, the two countries reaffirmed that the U.S. defense commitment to Korea is firm and agreed to further strengthen the comprehensive cooperative relations.
At the annual ROK-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting of last month, there was a general agreement on the transfer of wartime operational control.
Through close bilateral consultations, the Government will pursue the transfer plan without any discrepancy in such a way to secure peace and safety on the Korean Peninsula and to enhance the deterrent capacity against the North.
As a result of the Government's effort to USFK relocate its troops to Pyongtaek on the basis of the understanding and cooperation of the local residents, full-fledged land-clearing work will soon be carried out in preparation for construction.
Thorough support will be extended to the Pyongtaek residents who will have to move elsewhere due to the USFK relocation as well as those in areas to be returned by USFK.
For the first time in the history of the Republic, Korea has produced a UN Secretary-General, which demonstrated its potential.
In accordance with its elevated international status, Korea will faithfully carry out its role as a responsible member of the international community, including the expansion of its official development assistance for the eradiation of poverty in developing countries.
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Fellow Koreans,
The Participatory Government has about one more year to go until the end of its term.
Despite various hardships, the Government has striven to resolve pending tasks and to fulfill its obligations called for by the times.
I believe that the remaining period is much more important than any time before. During the period, ongoing policies that the Government has worked toward should be concluded successfully while a stepping-stone should be laid to usher in a new era.
In the past, political disputes flared up and the country was plunged into turmoil whenever an administration neared the end of its term. The repeated vacuum in national leadership has wreaked serious havoc on the general public.
Each administration has a finite term but the Republic of Korea will exist forever.
Until the very last day in office, I will fulfill my responsibilities to administer this Government.
The Participatory Government will not avoid the tasks that need to be addressed immediately and continue to carry them out responsibly.
This also calls for efforts on the part of the National Assembly. There is no such thing as a policy that satisfies everyone. Differences emerging in the policymaking process can be worked out in a democratic and rational manner, namely dialogue and compromise.
I would also like to encourage you to speed up the resolution of the issues that require your immediate attention to ensure timely policy implementation. It is also important to conduct a sincere discussion on the vision and strategy for Korea's future as well.
Let us keep in mind that every step that we take today will leave an indelible mark on the Republic's history.
Thank you.
웹사이트: http://www.president.go.kr
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2008년 8월 6일 17:22
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