열린장관실

Korean Diplomacy Meeting the Challenges of the Times

Remarks by

H.E. YOON YOUNG-KWAN

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade

at a luncheon to commemorate United Nations Day

October 30, 2003

Seoul

        President Park Soo-Gil

        Excellencies, Distinguished Guests,

        It gives me great pleasure to join you all in commemorating this year's United Nations Day.  I am honored to speak before such a distinguished audience, and would like to thank the United Nations Association of the Republic of Korea for providing me with this valuable opportunity.

        Today I wish to share with you my thoughts on some of the current issues Korean diplomacy faces at this important juncture.  I would like to begin by reviewing the current situation on the Korean Peninsula from the perspective of inter-Korean relations.  I will then turn to the issues between the Republic of Korea and the United Nations.

        As we recall still vividly, the incident of September 11 has awakened the world to new threats to international security.  It has heightened the concern of the international community over the danger of terrorism as well as the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.  A terrorist bomb attack on the streets has replaced a global nuclear war as the ultimate nightmare for ordinary people anywhere in the world.

        Against this background, the North Korean nuclear issue has re-emerged, 9 years after the Agreed Framework put an end to the first crisis.  It has now become one of the most conspicuous challenges to international security.  From a structural point of view focusing on relative capabilities in international relations, we might be able to say North Korea has embarked on a nuclear development program to overcome its economic, military and diplomatic hardships.  

        The end of the Cold War deprived North Korea of most of its allies in the communist bloc, driving it into diplomatic isolation.  The sharp decrease in economic assistance and energy supply from the former allies dealt a serious blow to North Korea's economy, which in turn undermined its conventional military capabilities.  Thus, since the early 1990s, North Korea has seen its relative capability gap with South Korea and the outside world continue to widen, not only in economic capacity but also in conventional military power and the diplomatic front.

        Under the circumstances, it is probable that North Korea has tried to use its nuclear program as a leverage to overcome those predicaments.  Pyongyang has suggested that it would give up the nuclear program in return for security guarantee and normalization of relations with Washington.  Meanwhile, they have resorted to rhetorics and brinkmanship as usual in presenting their case.  As we have seen so far, however, this tactic is making the situation even worse, leading North Korea to further diplomatic isolation and economic deterioration.

        As such, the North Korean nuclear issue has economic, military and diplomatic dimensions all intertwined.  We therefore need to take a comprehensive approach, taking all the factors into account.  In this regard, it is reassuring that the first round of the Six-Party Talks reached consensus on the principle of a peaceful resolution through dialogue as well as of a comprehensive solution which will not only resolve the nuclear issue but also address North Korea's security concerns and economic needs.

        In the coming rounds of the Six-Party Talks participants are expected to discuss in detail how to terminate North Korea's nuclear weapons program as well as to seek ways to address North Korea's security concerns.  This will greatly enhance the prospects of a diplomatic resolution of the nuclear issue.

        The ROK government's policy toward North Korea is based on the premise that politics and economics go together.  It views the unstable North Korean economy as one of the main factors causing instability on the Korean Peninsula.  We anticipate that North Korea, to alleviate its economic difficulties, will introduce more elements of market economics and open up its economy to the outside world.  Thus, the more North Korea becomes economically interdependent in the international community, the more it will have to follow global norms in international relations.

        My government aims at boosting interdependence not only between the two sides of Koreas but also between the Koreas and their neighboring countries.  Increased economic engagement between North Korea and neighboring countries will in turn positively affect the peace process on the Korean Peninsula.   

        All in all, these efforts will not only bring peace to the Korean Peninsula but also serve as a stepping stone to stability and prosperity in Northeast Asia.  The European experience in the 1950's serves as a good guide for us here.  During the span of the 100 years until the end of the Second World War, France and Germany had fought three major wars against each other.  Yet, the two countries were able to achieve a thaw in their confrontational relationship through growing economic cooperation under the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and, as a result, have made possible the peace and prosperity enjoyed by the European Union today.

        Distinguished Guests,

        The United Nations has accomplished a great deal during the past half century.  It has become the pioneer in opening new horizons for a better world for mankind.  Today, this world body materializes the aspirations of all people in the world for peace and prosperity.  Such achievements notwithstanding, the UN faces new and emerging challenges in this era of globalization.  They are in the form of terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, narcotic drugs, human trafficking and environmental degradation, to name a few.  The world body needs extensive support if it is to effectively and efficiently meet them.

        To be sure, without the United Nations, there would have been no independence for the people of East Timor, no prospect of lasting peace in Sierra Leone, and no help to rebuild Afghanistan.  Now, there is a need for international support for the restoration of peace and stability to a sovereign, democratic and independent Iraq.  The United Nations has successfully responded to this need by unanimously adopting a new Security Council resolution on Iraq earlier this month.

        Korea once experienced similar changes that Iraq is now undergoing.  The Korean War in the 1950s hampered seriously Korea's economic and political development.  Generous assistance and cooperation from the international community including the United Nations helped to build the foundation on which Korea could transform itself to the economically thriving and politically democratic society as it is today.  Now it is our turn to lend assistance to a country reaching out its hand for help.  

        Korea is fully committed to accepting our share of the responsibility.  This is why the Korean government has decided to dispatch additional troops and to provide a considerable amount of financial assistance to Iraq.  This was not an easy decision.  As an act of faith in democratic values and human rights, Korea will find its reward when peace and stability take root in Iraq and the Iraqi people are able to enjoy the benefits of a broad-based democracy.  And, as a result, we believe the whole world will be a more peaceful and stable place.

        This year marks the twelfth of Korean membership in the United Nations.  Our diplomacy has gained broader horizons since our admission to the global body.  Despite my country's short history in this body, we are indeed proud of our achievements in and contribution to the UN over the past decade.

        In particular, we have had great opportunities to play our part in dealing with matters of global concern by serving on the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member in 1996-97 and on the Presidency of the 56th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.  Moreover, Korea has come to make significant financial contributions to the United Nations, making 10th in amounts paid in 2003.  Korea has actively participated in UN PKO missions in East Timor, the Western Sahara,  Angola and Somalia.

        We have also played our part in the efforts to address major global issues including conflict prevention, promotion of human rights, protection of the environment, development and disarmament.  This has been clearly illustrated, among others, by Korea's hosting of the Second Ministerial Conference of the Community of Democracies in November of last year as well as of the Third Global Forum on Fighting Corruption in May of this year.

        Mr. President and Distinguished Guests,

            The principles and goals of the UN stand today as politically just and morally relevant as they were at the time of its inception.  To meet successfully the global challenges facing the United Nations, the legitimacy, authority and capacity of the UN should be strengthened.  The Republic of Korea strongly supports the United Nations as a forum for realizing the common good of humanity.  But the United Nations needs more than governments to fulfil its mission.  The role of civil society, such as the UN Association of Korea, is now becoming more important in realizing the UN's lofty ideals.  

    I am certain that the UN Association of Korea will continue to be instrumental in promoting public awareness of the United Nations, with its vigorous activities under the able leadership of Ambassador Park Soo-Gil.  The Korean government remains a full supporter of the Association's activities.

        Thank you very much.