1. Joint Press Conference with ROK President Park and U.S. President Obama

- Seoul, Washington to strengthen alliance in regard to N. Korean nukes

In regard to North Korean nuclear weapons, the two leaders reaffirmed the zero tolerance and zero approval principles of jointly dealing with issues surrounding North Korean nuclear arms. Both leaders agreed that the international community would respond strongly were Pyongyang to commit additional nuclear tests or undertake any provocation.

In regard to the rapidly changing situation on the Korean Peninsula, the two leaders agreed to reconsider the timing of transferring wartime operational control, which is currently scheduled for late 2015. President Park said, “Considering the security conditions regarding North Korean nuclear and missile threats, we, both leaders, agreed to reconsider both the timing and the conditions under which the transfer of wartime operational control, currently set for late 2015, would take place.” President Obama also said that the U.S. has agreed to review the timing of the transfer, and added that the Korea-U.S. alliance confirms that both countries are well-prepared to fulfill their mission.

In regard to the missile defense system in both countries, the U.S. president said that the two countries have agreed to improve the mutual operation of the existing missile defense system while modernizing the Korea-U.S. alliance. President Park said, “Both countries have agreed to strengthen their capability to effectively respond to nuclear and missile threats from North Korea." She added that Seoul would pursue the development of its own missile defense system, while working together with Washington, in order to enhance interoperability with the U.S. missile defense system.

- Economic cooperation

The two leaders stated that the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA) has contributed to the economic development of both countries, leading to an increased volume of trade between them. Both Korea and the U.S. have seen the positive effects of the free trade pact. The two leaders agreed to make further efforts so that small- and medium-sized firms would be able to enjoy the benefits of free trade, such as the improvement of export terms and conditions and deregulation.

In regard to the Korea-U.S. FTA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the two leaders shared the common view that both countries would be able to extend cooperation through the TPP, following the FTA. In regard to the energy sector, Korea and the U.S. agreed to extend cooperation in clean energy and unconventional energy, which includes shale gas and the gas hydrate sector. In clean energy, which includes renewable energy, smart grids and improving energy efficiency, Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the U.S. Department of Energy agreed to work together to conduct joint research into energy storage systems. The two countries also agreed to combine Korea’s capability of commercialization with the U.S.'s core technology of compressed air power storage systems.

In regard to information and communications technology (ICT), Korea and the U.S. agreed to build a win-win cooperation system by strengthening policy cooperation. To this aim, the two countries agreed to review the first ICT forum which was formed last year and to host the second forum in the near future. They also agreed to introduce a joint ICT research and development program.

☞Transcript of Joint Press Conference with ROK and US


2. ROK-U.S. Summit



- Mourning for ferry sinking victims

Prior to the summit, President Barack Obama paid silent tribute to the Korean people and government in honor of the sinking of the Sewol. As a token of sympathy and as an expression of his condolences to the victims of the tragic ferry accident, President Obama offered a U.S. national flag and a magnolia seedling to Danwon High School in Ansan, Gyeonggi-do (Gyeonggi Province), which lost hundreds of students and teachers in the sinking. The flag was flying over the White House the same day the ferry sank, taking so many lives. In regard to the magnolia seedling, President Obama said that he believes magnolias are with the victims of the accident, as the flower symbolizes beauty and resurrection when it comes into bloom every spring. The White House has grown magnolias ever since former U.S. President Andrew Jackson planted one in the 1800s in memory of his deceased wife.

President Park expressed her appreciation to President Obama for sending active support with naval vessels and rescue experts, and for expressing sympathy in regard to the ferry sinking. She said, “As all Americans gathered their strength to overcome times of difficulty after September 11, 2001, so, too, the Korean people will surely overcome this hardship and build a new country.”



Following are excerpts of remarks made by President Park Geun-hye and U.S. President Barack Obama during their summit.

◎President Obama: I would like to thank President Park for welcoming me here today. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to come back to the Republic of Korea. But I am very mindful that my visit comes at a time of deep mourning for the people of this nation, and I know that President Park and the South Korean Government are focused on responding to the tragedy of the ferry Sewol.

In our press conference later, President Park and I will have the opportunity to address a range of issues that we’ll be discussing here today. But for now, I just wanted to express on behalf of the American people our deepest sympathies for the incredible and tragic loss that`s taken place. As allies but also as friends, we join you in mourning the lost and the missing, and especially so many young people, students who represented the vitality and the future of this nation.

So, President Park, I thought that it would be appropriate and fitting for us to begin today by honoring the lost and the missing. And our delegation, out of respect, would appreciate the opportunity to join together in a moment of silence.

▲President Park: Mr. President, thank you so much for making this proposal to hold a moment of silence for the victims of the ferry Sewol. Right after the tragic accident, you personally expressed your condolences and your sympathies, and you were unsparing in providing active U.S. assistance, including the dispatch of salvage vessels. The Korean people draw great strength and courage from your kindness.

Just as the American people were able to rally together in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks and were able to prevail over difficult times, so, too, I am sure that the Korean people will, in fact, pull through this moment of crisis and be able to achieve the renewal of the Republic of Korea.

Mr. President, my sincere welcome to you once again on your visit to Korea, and may our summit meeting today kick off the next 60 years and produce very meaningful results that allow us to do so.

◎President Obama: Well, thank you, President Park. The Republic of Korea is one of our strongest allies in the world. I’m looking forward to our discussion and to reaffirming America’s unshakeable commitment to South Korea and its security.

One last point I wanted to make—I have with me this American flag that I believe our protocol people have. In the United States, we have a tradition—after the loss of our servicemembers and veterans, we present a flag in their honor to their loved ones. This flag was flown over the White House the same day as the sinking of the Sewol. And in that spirit, I`m presenting this American flag to you and the people of the Republic of Korea on behalf of the American people. It reflects our deep condolences, but also our solidarity with you during this difficult time, and our great pride in calling you an ally and a friend.

▲President Park: Mr. President, thank you so much again for sharing in our sorrow, the sorrow of the Korean people as well as the bereaved families, and for your gracious gesture.


3. Returning of Korean Cultural Artifacts



President Park Geun-hye and U.S. President Barack Obama conversed over the nine state seals during a return ceremony for the Korean cultural artifacts held at Cheong Wa Dae.


4. Korean and U.S. Presidents Visit ROK/U.S. Combined Forces Command



President Park Geun-hye and U.S. President Barack Obama, who began the second day of his official visit to Korea, visited the ROK/U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC), a symbol of the Korea-U.S. alliance. It was the first time for the heads of state of the two countries to make a visit together to the CFC since its creation in 1978.

Their visit carries great significance in that they personally encouraged the CFC personnel who are dedicated to the defense of the Korean Peninsula and reaffirmed the rock-solid combined defense posture anchored in the strong Korea-U.S. alliance.

The two leaders were briefed on the current state of the combined defense readiness by Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti, the Commander of the United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/ United States Forces Korea, and made clear that the two nations are firmly determined to respond decisively to any North Korean provocation on the basis of the strong combined defense posture.

Accompanying the two leaders on their visit were Minister of National Defense Kim Kwan-jin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Choi Yoon-hee from the Korean side and U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Sung Kim and U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice from the U.S. side. Also present were key CFC military officials and personnel in addition to General Scaparrotti.


5. Joint Fact Sheet: The United States-Republic of Korea Alliance: A Global Partnership

On the occasion of President Obama’s visit to the Republic of Korea, the United States-Republic of Korea Alliance is stronger and deeper than ever. Originally forged in the shared sacrifice of our peoples 61 years ago, our Alliance today is the linchpin of peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region and an increasingly comprehensive global partnership. Our two nations enjoy strong and longstanding security, economic, and people-to-people ties, and our shared values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law are the foundation of our relationship. From strengthening the nonproliferation regime to climate change, we are committed to deepening our cooperation on global challenges, and continue to work together to advance prosperity and security in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world.

The United States and Republic of Korea remain fully committed to continuing our close cooperation on the full range of issues related to North Korea toward our common goal, which is shared by the international community, of the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of North Korea in a peaceful manner. Our two countries reaffirm the UN Security Council’s unanimous condemnation of the DPRK’s recent ballistic missile launches as clear violations of UN Security Council resolutions 1718, 1874, 2087, and 2094. We strongly urge the DPRK to refrain from additional provocations in further violation of its international obligations and commitments. We are also committed to working with the international community to ensure the full and transparent implementation of all UN Security Council resolutions concerning the DPRK, and we urge the DPRK to refrain from further threatening actions. The United States supports President Park's vision of a Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons, free from the fear of war, and peacefully reunified on the basis of democratic and free-market principles, as articulated in her Dresden address.

☞Full Text of the Joint Fact Sheet

*Source: http://www.korea.net
                http://english.president.go.kr (Cheong Wa Dae Website)