Tracking Number: 327901
Title: "International Community Does Not Seek to Isolate North Korea." Secretary of State Christopher's remarks at the inaugural reception for the Korea-United States
Twenty-First Century Council. (940218)
Date: 19940218
Text:
*EPF506 02/18/94 *
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY DOES NOT SEEK TO ISOLATE NKOREA (Transcript: Christopher remarks of 02/17/94) (1440) Washington -- Secretary of State Christopher says the international community "does not seek to isolate North Korea but to help it join the mainstream of the East Asian region."
In remarks at the inaugural reception for the Korea-United States Twenty-First Century Council the evening of February 17, Christopher said, "If North Korea abandons its nuclear weapons option, honors its international obligations and takes other steps to conform to the norms of international behavior, the door is open for North Korea to improve relations with the rest of the world."
The secretary of state noted that the United States is working "hand-in hand with the Republic of Korea and others in the region to deal with the urgent and complicated issue posed by the North Korean nuclear threat.
"Our shared goals are clear," he said: "We must ensure a non-nuclear Korean Peninsula and a strong international non-proliferation regime. North Korea's failure to meet its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is a challenge to peace and security on the peninsula as well as to the global non-proliferation regime."
Christopher reiterated that "Our determination to achieve these objectives is firm. Our preferred path is dialogue.
"I am pleased that on Tuesday, North Korea took the next necessary step and accepted the inspections required by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Satisfactory completion of these inspections will help the IAEA reassure the international community that there has been no diversion from North Korea's nuclear facilities. It is a step toward solution of the nuclear issue though very important questions remain to be resolved. I also want to make it clear that if we are to continue our dialogue with North Korea, it must resume North-South dialogue that looks to a non-nuclear peninsula."
Following is the official transcript of remarks of Secretary Christopher at the Inaugural Reception for the Korea-United States Twenty-First Century Council, February 17, 1994:
(begin official transcript) Foreign Minister Han, Ambassador Kantor, Dr. Sakong, distinguished Korean and American friends:
Thank you, Fred, for that kind introduction. Fred Bergsten has made a single contribution to U.S.-Korean relations, to the development of APEC as a significant forum for regional cooperation, and to the cause of an open global trading system.
It is an honor to speak at the launching of the Korea-United States Twenty-First Century Council. As Korea takes its place among the world's advanced industrial nations, the Council is building new forms of cooperation that will draw our two nations closer together. I look forward to seeing the results of your important work.
No area of the world is more important for American interests than the Asia-Pacific region. Its dynamic economies and its growth rates make it a critical area for American exports and jobs. We have vital security interests and alliances in Asia. And we have an interest in promoting democratic values in a part of the world where democracy is on the move, yet repressive regimes remain.
On his first trip overseas, President Clinton traveled to Asia in order to set forth his vision of a New Pacific Community. That Community is built on three core elements: shared strength, shared prosperity, and a shared commitment to democratic values. Today, the United States and Korea hold those elements in common to a greater extent than ever before.
As President Clinton said in Seoul last summer, "Geography has placed our two nations far apart, but history has drawn us close together." In the 1950s, we fought side by side to turn back aggression. In the 1960s and 1970s, we began building strong commercial ties as Korean economic development accelerated. And in the last several years, as a result of the "second miracle on the Han" -- Korea's democratic miracle -- our bonds have become stronger than ever. Today, our two nations are linked by open societies and open markets. And we are woven together by 1 million Americans of Korean descent.
President Clinton and President Kim Young Sam have further strengthened the ties between our two nations. Each is committed to a bold program of reform. Each is committed to economic renewal. And I know that President Clinton admires President Kim's personal courage and dedication to democracy.
When President Clinton visited Korea last July, he made a special point of going to the National Assembly to honor Korea's vibrant democracy.
The principal purpose of the President's visit to Seoul was to address the security aspects of the New Pacific Community. As the President told the National Assembly, "We must always remember that security comes first." Today I want to reaffirm that the United States has a solemn and enduring commitment to South Korea's security. We are maintaining our forward-deployed troop presence as a guarantee of South Korea's security and as a linchpin of America's engagement in the region. We are participating in the new ASEAN Regional Security Forum as a mechanism to ease regional tensions and discourage arms races. And we are attaching a high priority to curbing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
The United States is working hand-in hand with the Republic of Korea and others in the region to deal with the urgent and complicated issue posed by the North Korean nuclear threat. Our shared goals are clear: we must ensure a non-nuclear Korean Peninsula and a strong international non-proliferation regime. North Korea's failure to meet its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is a challenge to peace and security on the peninsula as well as to the global non-proliferation regime.
Our determination to achieve these objectives is firm. Our preferred path is dialogue. I am pleased that on Tuesday, North Korea took the next necessary step and accepted the inspections required by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Satisfactory completion of these inspections will help the IAEA reassure the international community that there has been no diversion from North Korea's nuclear facilities. It is a step toward solution of the nuclear issue, though very important questions remain to be resolved. I also want to make it clear that if we are to continue our dialogue with North Korea, it must resume North-South dialogue that looks to a non-nuclear peninsula.
The international community does not seek to isolate North Korea but to help it join the mainstream of the East Asian region. If North Korea abandons its nuclear weapons option, honors its international obligations and takes other steps to conform to the norms of international behavior, the door is open for North Korea to improve relations with the rest of the world.
As the United States and Korea work together to strengthen our security, we are also deepening our cooperation on economic and trade issues. President Clinton and President Kim share a dynamic economic vision for our two nations and for the entire Asia-Pacific region. We are encouraged by President Kim's reform agenda and by his determination to open up the Korean economy.
Last July, Presidents Clinton and Kim launched the Dialogue for Economic Cooperation (DEC). This dialogue is a cooperative effort to stimulate bilateral investment and trade. The DEC channels U.S. business views into President Kim's ambitious program of deregulation and liberalization. Similarly, it brings Korean business concerns to the attention of the U.S. Government. We hope that there will be tangible progress in a number of areas by the time the DEC concludes in June.
The United States and Korea also are working closely through APEC to strengthen ties among the economies in the region. As the chair of APEC's Committee on Trade and Investment this year, Korea has a key role in efforts to liberalize regional trade and investment.
When the Government of Korea agreed in December to the eventual elimination of non-tariff barriers on rice and other agriculture imports, it helped pave the way for a successful conclusion of the Uruguay Round. We know the decision on rice liberalization was difficult. The resolve shown by the Kim (Young Sam) Administration demonstrates that as a great trading nation, Korea is willing to accept great responsibilities. Together, we must strengthen the liberal word trading system that has allowed our economies to grow and our people to prosper.
On the eve of the next century, our two democracies face the future in a spirit of cooperation and confidence. This Council can help shape that future to the benefit of both countries. Thank you gain for inviting me this evening.
(end official transcript) NNNN
File Identification: 02/18/94, EPF506
Product Name: Wireless File
Product Code: WF
Keywords: KOREA-UNITED STATES TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY COUNCIL; KOREA (SOUTH)-US
RELATIONS; CHRISTOPHER, WARREN/Speaker; KOREA (NORTH)/Defense & Military; INSPECTIONS; ARMS CONTROL VERIFICATION; INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY; NUCLEAR N
Document Type: TXT
Thematic Codes: 1EA; 1AC; 1UN
Target Areas: EA
PDQ Text Link: 327901
USIA Notes: *94021804.EPF
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
