South Korea: President Lee Myung-bak addresses US Congress

Korea Times


Lee highlights Korea-US alliance in address before Congress

By Park Si-soo

President Lee Myung-bak highlighted the significance of strong alliance between South Korea and the United States and his commitment to end North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.

“Our mutual defense keeps us strong. And it keeps us safe. Ours is an alliance forged in blood,” Lee said in a speech at a joint session of the U.S. Congress in Washington Thursday.

Lee also expressed his deep appreciation of the smooth passage of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (KORUS FTA) in Congress a day earlier, calling it “a historic achievement” that will lay the ground for a “win-win” situation for both sides. Lee said the pact is another milestone in relations between the two countries after the defense agreement forged at the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, in which the U.S. fought alongside the South against invading troops from the communist North.

The speech came hours after Lee’s summit with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House. Lee was the first Korean leader to address a joint session of Congress in 13 years since the late President Kim Dae-jung in 1998.

“We know that defending freedom is never easy. It is never free of cost or free of risk. For this, I want to thank you, on behalf of the Korean people, for standing by us in times of darkness,” he said, referring to America’s participation in the Korea War.

Singling out the names of congressmen who served in the war _ John Conyers, Charles Rangel, Sam Jonson and Howard Coble, President Lee said, “I will never forget them. I will never forget how my mother tried so hard to keep them alive.”

He said Korea “must” achieve the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and peaceful unification with North Korea, asking for America’s unwavering support behind in the process.

“We must achieve peaceful unification. A unified Korea will contribute to peace and prosperity, not only in Northeast Asia but far beyond,” he underlined. “We therefore must achieve the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. And North Korea must give up its nuclear ambition. Korea and the United States stand united.”

Lee eulogized Congressional approval of the long-stalled free trade agreement between Korea and the U.S.

“The Korea-U.S. free trade agreement is a historic achievement, a win-win for both countries. This agreement is a major step toward future growth and job creation,” he said. “Today, the United States and Korea have one of the closest, most important economic relationships in the world.”

For both countries, he explained, the bilateral deal has brought “untold benefits and opportunities. Our trade in goods, services and mutual investments has grown dramatically.”

He went on to say, “When we trade together, we grow together. When we build together, we rise together. And when we work together, we win together.” The KORUS FTA will take effect Jan. 1 next year, if the South Korean parliament endorses its bill on the bilateral deal within this month.

http://koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/10/116_96668.html