Remarks by President Roh at the Official Luncheon Hosted by Australian Prime Minister Howard (Summary)
Every year Korea is concerned about trade deficits concerning Australia. I noted to Prime Minister Howard this morning that this trade imbalance is quite one-sided and he replied, "It is to be determined by the market and there is nothing I could do." Hence, I would like to ask you to hire Korean vessels when you transport Australian LNG to Korea.
I am well aware that the international community is concerned about the North Korean nuclear issue. Sometimes I hear inquiries from the international community why Korea is reluctant about sanctions, which I find missing the point.
Korea had been imposing sanctions even before the UN Security Council resolution was passed and its sanctions were more extensive than what was entailed in the resolution. In monetary terms, sanctions imposed by the Korean government would be of a larger amount than those imposed by the rest of the world, including the U.S. and Japan.
As for PSI, Korea supports its principle and I believe that we support it at a substantial level. Nevertheless, as South Korea is directly facing North Korea, we should keep away from any situation where a physical conflict may take place. While we support nonproliferation, what is more fundamental is to dismantle nuclear weapons.
As a clash between two Koreas is a "danger of the present," it is improper to let happen a clash now to avoid a danger in the future.
If I may, I dare to say that we know North Korea best. It is South Korea that would suffer most if the North Korean nuclear issue goes astray. And it is the same with the opposite scenario. Accordingly, I believe that Korea's stance must be taken into consideration when the international community discusses the North Korean nuclear issue.
웹사이트: http://www.president.go.kr
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2008년 8월 6일 17:22
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