His Excellency Mr. SONG Min-soon
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade
on Korea's Role for Peace and Cooperation in Northeast Asia
January 29, 2008
Yonsei University
Seoul, Korea
Dr. Chi Hoon-sang, Acting President of Yonsei University,
Dr. Kim Dong-hoon, Director of the Leadership Development Institute,
Distinguished Guests and Students,
Today, I would first like to express my appreciation to Yonsei University for the valuable opportunity to speak at this prestigious forum. It is my great pleasure to meet a whole array of students from different countries, including Korea.
When I arrived at this campus this morning, I immediately noted the drive and vigor of the students of this campus. I understand that the name of Yonsei University means "a university that leads the world". And I think this university has lived up to that reputation, as seen in the history of academic achievements of this university.
Today I would like to share with you some of my views on how to promote peace and cooperation in Northeast Asia in the 21st century. I would also like to discuss the role of Korea in building an order for cooperation in this region.
There have been predictions that the 21st century will be the era of the Asia-Pacific. And Northeast Asia has indeed been the focus of global attention. A look at a few statistics well illustrates its importance.
One fourth of the global population today live in Northeast Asia. According to the World Bank, the combined economies of the Republic of Korea, China and Japan comprise one fifth of the world economy today. Some even predict that it will reach up to one third of the world economy by 2020. The number of troops in standing armies stationed in this region totals approximately five million, accounting for 25% of the total troops in the world. Further, the traditional culture of Northeast Asia based on Confucian traditions, the family values of filial duty and hard work, amidst the new trend of seeking values beyond nationalism, has earned wide respect.
If we look at the countries of Northeast Asia one by one, China is now at the center of world attention with its rapid pace of development and growth. Japan, as the second largest economic power in the world, is at the forefront in making contributions to international cooperation through assistance to developing countries, among others. Korea has transformed itself from one of the poorest nations into a major economic power, and achieved political democratization within a generation. As such, Korea now presents a valuable model for many other developing countries.
All in all, the great dynamism of Northeast Asia is rising to the fore. And yet, despite these promising developments, cooperation in this region is still at a very elementary stage. Several attempts to form a mechanism for regional cooperation have not proved so successful for several reasons. For one thing, there are still long-standing national rivalries, controversies over history, territorial disputes and lingering nationalism. The conflict over history textbooks is one such clear case.
Moreover, pending political and security issues stemming from the division of the Korean Peninsula and cross-Strait issues are also presenting obstacles to regional cooperation. Differences in the value systems are also hindering cooperation. Up until the 19th century, there was, relatively speaking, much common ground in the value systems among the nations in this region.
But, in the course of wars, social turbulence and ideological confrontation throughout the 20th century, many factors which set countries apart have emerged. They include different viewpoints on human rights, political and economic systems, and social diversity.
Distinguished Guests and Students,
It is time for Northeast Asia to seriously enhance the level of regional cooperation. We need to create an institution for regional cooperation. This institutional cooperation should be constructive in overcoming differences and conflicts among countries, bringing benefits not only to the countries in this region but to all nations of the world.
In this regard, there are valuable lessons to be learned from the cases of the European Union and ASEAN, for example. It is fortunate that we have recently seen favourable conditions emerging for cooperation among countries in Northeast Asia.
First, increased exchanges and interdependence among the countries of this region are evident. For example, the yearly number of visitors among Korea, China and Japan totalled approximately over 15 million, and weekly flights among them reached two thousand in 2007. This morning I read an article reporting that Chinese travellers to Japan are now placed number three after Korea and Taiwan. After China, there comes the U.S. These people-to-people exchanges have been increasing at an annual rate of over 10 percent every year and are expected to approach 20 to 30 million soon.
The three countries are now the most important partners to one another in the fields of trade and investment. The trade volume among Korea, China and Japan totalled about 400 billion dollars in 2007. That is one sixth of the total amount of trade of the three countries. Actually, Korea, China and Japan are the most important trading partners among themselves, placing themselves number one, two, three important trading partners respectively. And it is now increasing at an annual rate of 15%. At this point, it is impossible for one country to prosper without the other two.
Second, many new global and regional issues are emerging that cannot be resolved by one country alone. Issues such as the environment, energy and proliferation of WMD are cases in point.
You will recall that there was a massive oil spill in Tae-an on South Korea's central west coast last December. It offered a commendable example of cooperation. At that time, China and Japan hastened to send oil absorbers. The U.S. sent experts to tackle the disaster. The help came so quickly.The speedy assistance from these neighboring countries was indeed instrumental in the environmental recovery. We very much appreciate the help from neighboring countries.
Third, governments in this region have agreed to gradually institutionalize regional cooperation. There was a Trilateral Foreign Ministers' Meeting last June on Jeju Island among Korea, China and Japan. On that occasion, the three Ministers agreed to promote cooperation in nine key areas including dust sandstorms, marine waste, cultural exchanges and air shuttle services, among others. This was the first time for the Foreign Ministers of the three countries to hold a separate meeting in Northeast Asia. The next meeting will be held in Japan in the first half of this year. It is going to be institutionalized.
In addition, last November, the three countries agreed to hold a trilateral Summit within the three countries on a rotational basis. Like the Foreign Ministers' Meeting, it will take place independently from other multilateral events. In the past, these events were held on the margins of other multilateral forums such as ASEAN+3.
Distinguished Guests and Students,
For the building of an institution of cooperation in the region, the most pressing task is to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue.
Currently, in the Six-Party Talks concrete steps are being taken to disable North Korea's nuclear facilities. Actually, we are entering untrodden territories in the history of non-proliferation and denuclearization.
Meaningful progress in the resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue will lead to concrete moves in normalizing relations between the two Koreas as well as between the U.S. and North Korea. It will also constitute a vital step in the establishment of a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, thus laying the groundwork for the ultimate unification of the Korean Peninsula.
One consideration to bear in mind at this point in our efforts to denuclearize North Korean nuclear facilities and address the North Korean nuclear issue is that any sub-group level cooperation among the countries concerned should proceed in such a way as to be compatible with the progress in the Six-Party Talks. Measures which may present a possibility of the formation of groups among participating countries, thus drawing a fault line at the negotiating table, are not advisable.
In resolving the North Korean nuclear issue, we should not only focus on eliminating North Korea's WMD capacity but also bear in mind the grave implications for a regional and global nuclear arms race, in the case that we fail to stop it.
The American scholar, John Kenneth Galbraith once said that politics "consists in choosing between the disastrous and the unpalatable." In international politics as well, in many cases, we have to choose between the disastrous and the unpalatable. All parties, including North Korea, have to choose the right path to prevent this problem from ending in disaster.
Except for the DPRK, other participating countries to the Six-Party Talks are now going through political changes and transition. We must ensure that such domestic situations do not become hurdles for continuous progress on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
According to the Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks of September 2005, progress in the nuclear issue is to further develop into the establishment of a Northeast Asia Multilateral Security Dialogue. In this regard, the Six-Party Talks Working Group on a "Northeast Asia Peace and Security Mechanism" launched early last year represents a good start for that security dialogue.
Two meetings of the Working Group have been held so far. At these meetings, ideas on how to pursue initial confidence-building measures at the governmental level and how to proceed with the multilateral security dialogue in Northeast Asia have been discussed. In particular, Korea has proposed Guiding Principles on Northeast Asia Peace and Security on: ① the prevention and peaceful resolution of conflicts; ② enhancing mutual understanding and confidence building; ③ the promotion of peace and stability in Northeast Asia by reducing tensions; ④ respect for political, economic, social and cultural differences; ⑤ the enhancement of military transparency; and ⑥ the promotion of mutual threat reduction. These principles are supported by other participating countries.
Now we are going to move ahead on these principles and see how to enhance and institutionalize security and cooperation dialogue both in the Working Group and plenary meeting.
Another aspect of building a new institution in Northeast Asia is that it should contribute to economic prosperity in this region.
In the mid to long term, the conclusion of a trilateral FTA among Korea, China and Japan should be pursued. This trilateral FTA would also be linked to the Korea-U.S. FTA. Efforts should be made to eventually establish a free trade zone for East Asia as a whole. As an intial step, mutual investment could be facilitated by concluding a trilateral investment agreement.
The energy security dialogue should be strengthened and logistics cooperation, such as in the connection of flights and shipping, needs to be expanded. Environmental issues such as dust sandstorms and climate change also require a joint response.
Last but not least, a new Northeast Asian cooperative order should contribute to promoting mutual understanding and exchanges. For this, it is important to promote exchanges among countries in the region across a whole range of fields such as culture, art, education, sports, and tourism. In this regard, the "Korea-China-Japan Film Festival" as a part of the "Trilateral Cultural Shuttle Project" was held last year in Busan for the first time.
Now let me touch on the unique role Korea has to play in building an order for regional cooperation.
Geographically Korea lies at the very heart of Northeast Asia. It is in a position to serve as a bridge connecting the continent and the ocean. It is also able to play a bridging role between developed countries and developing countries.
In the cultural sphere, Korea enjoys a harmonious coexistence of traditional and modern cultures of the East and the West. Various religions and beliefs including Confucianism, Buddhism and Christianity peacefully coexist side by side.
Based on this unique standing, Korea is exerting concrete efforts to enhance cooperation in Northeast Asia.
First, Korea is playing an active role in institutionalizing the regional cooperation as in the cases of trilateral Foreign Ministers' Meetings and Summit meetings, as I have already mentioned.
Second, Korea has been assuming a key role in the international efforts to peacefully resolve the North Korean nuclear issue, thus contributing to regional and global non-proliferation, the details of which I already touched on.
The Korean government is doing its best to ensure that the Six-Party Talks process is kept in good shape and to pass it over smoothly to the next team. It is a welcome development that the next Korean government is supporting the progress which has been made so far and is emphasizing its political will to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue through the Six-Party Talks process.
Third, Korea is very active in promoting economic cooperation in this region as seen in the conclusion of the Korea-U.S. FTA. We will consider resuming the negotiations on the currently suspended Korea-Japan FTA and will soon conclude the ongoing joint research project with China on a Korea-China FTA. Through these efforts, the groundwork will be laid for a Korea-China-Japan FTA.
In other words, Korea has been serving as a key facilitator for Northeast Asian cooperation.
Distinguished Guests,
The state of division is a serious obstacle to the promotion of cooperation in Northeast Asia. History teaches us that security and cooperation in Northeast Asia can be achieved once there is a stable and unified nation on the Korean Peninsula.
The unification of Korea will form a huge natural economic zone, known as the NEZ, with China, Russia and Japan. It will transcend national boundaries and present greater new economic opportunities to the countries outside the region such as the U.S. as well. A unified Korea, denuclearized and with a thriving market economy, friendly to all nations, would certainly contribute a great deal to regional security and cooperation.
With this vision, we are encouraging North Korea to become a responsible member of the international community through denuclearization, reform and opening up to the outside world. At this point, what North Korea needs to have is self confidence. We welcome them into the international community.
It is crucial that both South and North Korea first prosper before eventual unification, if we truly are to establish a firm peace and to build an institution of cooperation in Northeast Asia. Emphasizing Korea's unique role does not in any way mean that other countries have less important roles to play for the establishment of an institution for regional cooperation in Northeast Asia.
Rising as a political, economic and military power, China represents greater opportunities as well as challenges to the region and the world. Despite some differences in socio-political systems, we hope that China will play a bigger and more constructive role in building a regional community. I expect that China, under the flag of "Peaceful Development", will firmly share a common vision of cooperation with other countries.
Japan is a nation sharing with us many common values such as liberal democracy, the market economy and respect for human rights. It is our hope that Japan will enjoy more respect from its immediate neighbors and then from the international community by freeing itself of the shackles of history. In this way it will also expedite the formation of an institution for regional cooperation in Northeast Asia.
In addition, the active roles of the U.S. and Russia are crucial in the process of establishing the cooperative order in this region. They are expected to keep the unswerving positions as intra-regional players of the region, not extra-regional powers.
Distinguished Guests and Students,
Young people such as yourselves are the leaders of this region in the coming years and decades. A century ago, a 'beggar-thy-neighbor policy' was a key tenet in international relations. The essence of this policy was to be rich at the expense of your neighboring countries.
However, the 21st century is the era of the global village of interdependence. It calls rather for the idea of an 'enrich-thy-neighbor policy'. In personal relationships, if your friends are doing well, you also thrive. You also benefit. The same rule applies to relations between nations. All countries have to prosper together. I would ask that, with an open mind and vision, you enhance the attitude of the 'enrich-thy-neighbor policy' in every aspect of your lives in the future.
I would like to bring my remarks to a close by once again expressing my appreciation for this opportunity to meet such outstanding students from various prestigious universities in Northeast Asia. It is my sincere hope and belief that the 6th Northeast Asian Network (NEAN) will indeed prove a resounding success.
Thank you very much. /End/
