Luncheon Speech 
by H.E. Ban Ki-moon
at 
the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Korea (EUCCK) 

 

"Korea's Major Security Issues and Korea-EU Cooperation"

March 19, 2004  Seoul

(Introduction)

Mr. Joseph James Day, Vice-President of the EUCCK, distinguished Ambassadors of EU member states, 
ladies and gentlemen!

    It is my great honour and pleasure to speak before such a distinguished group of European 
businessmen and members of the EUCCK (European Union Chamber of Commerce in Korea).  I thank 
Vice-President Joseph James Day for giving me this valuable opportunity.  I would also like to take this 
opportunity to express my deep appreciation to the EUCCK for its efforts to promote closer economic 
cooperation and mutual understanding between Korea and EU countries.

    With the admission of ten more Eastern and Central European countries as new members on May 1 this 
year, the EU is set to gain even greater influence on world affairs.  I welcome this development, in 
particular since the enlargement of the EU membership will, in turn, expand the scope of cooperation 
between the EU and Korea.

    Today's event holds special meaning for me personally.  I still have the fond memories of delivering a 
luncheon speech here three years ago, in my capacity as Vice Foreign Minister.

    Today, I wish to share my thoughts on the Korean government's policies on major security issues, 
such as the North Korean nuclear problem, the relocation of U.S. forces in Korea and the dispatch of 
additional Korean troops to Iraq.  And then I will touch briefly on the EU's role in the Korean context.

(Domestic Political Situation)

    But before entering into our main theme today, I would like to say a few words on what probably is your 
foremost concern these days.  If I have guessed correctly, that is Korea's domestic political situation.

    Let me first reiterate that the temporary suspension of presidential power in the impeachment process 
will entail no change at all to our basic policies on foreign and economic affairs.  At this important juncture 
for Korea, EU countries' commitment to sustained cooperation and support is very much appreciated.

    I am glad to note that Moody's Investors Service and other major credit rating agencies have made their 
view clear that the current Korean political situation will not affect Korea's credit standing.  It is widely 
believed that the fundamentals of the Korean economy is strong enough to absorb the impact of domestic 
political events.

    For the past year, President Roh dealt with various state affairs with a clear vision, and emphasized the 
works of 'system' and 'roadmap' in implementing his vision.  This, I think, has contributed much to 
enhancing Korea's national capability to maintain stability in the face of what can be a potentially 
destabilizing development.

    Nevertheless, if Korea is to recover completely from the recent shock at the soonest possible date, the 
cooperation of everyone present here is essential.  Once the painful process of the on-going investigation 
into political campaign funding and other irregularities is over, we are confident that Korea will be reborn as 
a more transparent, more resilient and mature society in all aspects of our life.

(Korea's Policy on North Korean Nuclear Issue)

    Now, I will turn back to the first and most immediate of our security issues, which is the North Korean 
nuclear issue.

    The Korean Government has firmly maintained the basic tenet that this issue should be resolved 
peacefully through dialogue.  In pursuing a peaceful resolution of the issue, the following two principles 
have been guiding the Korean Government's efforts.

    First, we have worked out a roadmap which incorporates comprehensive and coordinated steps.  This 
approach is necessary because of the complex nature of the nuclear issue.

    Second, we have sought to set up a multilateral framework of dialogue.  This multilateral approach is 
vital, given the fact that North Korea's nuclear weapons program poses a threat not only to peace and 
stability on the Korean Peninsula but also to the global non-proliferation regime. 

(Six-Party Talks)

    The two rounds of the Six-Party Talks have proved to be very useful, reaffirming the principle of the 
peaceful resolution of the nuclear issue and accepting the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula as the 
common goal.  Indeed, the second round of the Talks produced meaningful results, which laid an 
invaluable basis for future progress.

    First, for the first time in the Six-Party Talks process, the participating countries adopted an agreed 
document in the form of the Chairman's Statement.

    Second, they consolidated the groundwork for continuing the process of dialogue by agreeing to set up 
the inter-sessional Working Group and agreeing upon the venue, which is Beijing, and time-frame for the 
next meeting, which is within the first half of this year.  Agreements on these points were indeed an 
important step forward towards institutionalizing the dialogue process.

    Third, there were substantive discussions on ways to achieve progress towards the resolution of the 
nuclear issue.  The participants countries engaged in serious discussions on the complete, verifiable and 
irreversible dismantlement, or what we call the CVID, of North Korea's nuclear programs and relevant 
coordinated steps.

    Immediately after the second round of the Six-Party Talks, I made visits to the U.S. and Japan.

    During my trip to the U.S., President Bush kindly received me for more than half an hour, and I had the 
opportunity to discuss this and other important issues with Secretary Powell, Secretary Rumsfeld and 
other leaders in the Congress and Administration.  President Bush reaffirmed his unswerving commitment 
to a peaceful resolution of the nuclear issue through dialogue. Secretary Powell and I shared the view that 
we had produced a positive result from the second round of the Six-Party Talks, and agreed to continue 
closer consultations.

    In my subsequent visit to Japan, this positive assessment of the outcome of the Talks was also shared 
by both Prime Minister Koizumi and Foreign Minister Kawaguchi. They promised to make continued efforts 
for close coordination based on our common approach to this issue.

    Later this month, I am planning to visit China, and then Russia sometime in the near future, with the aim 
of ensuring that both countries continue to play constructive roles in the upcoming talks.

    As we make preparations to make substantive progress at the third round, we face two challenges.

    First, North Korea should provide clarification on its HEU program and commit to the "complete, verifiable 
and irreversible dismantlement (CVID)" of all nuclear programs, including the HEU program. In return, the 
other participating countries will have to work out corresponding measures, such as multilateral security 
assurances.

    Second, we should hold the Working Group Meeting at the earliest possible date to further consolidate 
the foundation for the main talks.

    The Korean Government is playing an active role to launch the Working Group meeting at an early date. 
In this regard, Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Soo-hyuck, Korea's chief delegate to the Six-Party Talks, 
visited China earlier this week for consultations on the early convening of the Working Group and the 
plenary meeting.

    My Government will continue its efforts in coordination with other participating countries to resolve all 
nuclear issues, including the HEU program, through dialogue.  I am confident that we can achieve our 
ultimate goal of realizing the denuclearized Korean Peninsula. However, this is a process that will require 
patience and determination. The cooperation of our friends in the international community in this regard, 
including that of the EU, is imperative.

(Relocation of U.S. forces in Korea)

    One of the new kind of security issues Korea has to deal with wisely is the relocation of U.S. forces in 
Korea.

    Korea and the U.S. began the meetings of the "Future of the ROK-U.S. Alliance Policy Initiative (FOTA)" 
in 2003, in order to realize the vision for our future alliance and reach an agreement on the relocation of the 
U.S. forces in Korea.

    Both countries fully recognize the need to adapt the Korea-U.S. alliance to the changing global security 
environment and utilize advances in military technology. And both Governments agree that the relocation 
of U.S. forces from the Seoul metropolitan area will be implemented in a way that strengthens the 
combined defense capabilities on the Korean Peninsula.

    On the basis of this common understanding, both countries will make efforts to produce within this year 
a mutually acceptable document to implement the relocation.

(Dispatch of Korean Troops to Iraq)

    Now let me move on to a broader scene. With the widening of Korea's diplomatic horizons, my 
Government is participating more actively in international cooperation on regional and global issues.

    Korea's decision to dispatch additional troops to Iraq is one good example. When the Korean 
government dispatches 3,000 more soldiers, Korea will rank third, after the U.S. and the U.K., in the 
numbers of troops stationed in Iraq.  In addition, the Korean Government has earmarked 260 million US 
dollars to support the rehabilitation efforts of the Iraqi people.

    These measures are being taken to repay the help which Koreans have received from the international 
community. We hope that our contributions will be of great help to the Iraqi people in their efforts to 
reconstruct their country, revive the economy, and establish a stable democratic country.

    We are convinced that the Korean Government's assistance to Iraq will contribute to peace and stability 
in Iraq and the Middle East.

(The EU's Contribution)

Distinguished Guests!

    Let us now consider what the EU has done, and can do in the future, in cooperation with Korea.  The EU 
has been one of the most active supporters of Korea's position on security issues.

    Since the nuclear problem erupted in the 1990's, the EU has closely cooperated with us and played its 
own part in finding a peaceful resolution. Through various channels, the EU has delivered a strong 
message to North Korea that it must give up its nuclear program and agree to a peaceful resolution.  We 
appreciate what the EU has done to show North Korea that dialogue is the way to secure support for a 
bright and prosperous future for all.

    On a more general level, the EU's engagement in dialogue and exchanges with Pyongyang is highly 
appreciated, as it will encourage North Korea onto the path of openness and cooperation.  In this regard, it 
is noteworthy that Ireland established diplomatic relations with North Korea last year. I also welcome the 
EUCCK's opening of its 'corresponding office' in Pyongyang to provide North Korea with business 
promotion services and training in the market economy.  I am convinced that the EU's activities will greatly 
help to foster the conditions conducive to North Korea's move toward openness and cooperation with the 
outside world.

(EU's Model and Peace and Prosperity Policy) 

    The progress in European integration has been one of the most remarkable achievements in the modern 
world history.  The EU has transformed relations ridden with destructive rivalry and conflicts into ones of 
peace and harmony, and that was done through mature diplomacy and compromise.

    I believe that Korea also has much to learn from the historical precedent set by Europe.  My Government 
has a vision that the success achieved in resolving the nuclear issue by a multilateral forum may produce 
positive impetus for our efforts to establish a permanent mechanism for peace and prosperity on the Korean 
Peninsula and in the region as a whole.

    It is in this context that the Korean government is pursuing the“Peace and Prosperity Policy”, which aims 
to promote permanent peace and common prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and beyond.    This policy is 
based on the premise that the more interdependent North Korea becomes with the outside network, the 
more will it benefit by following international norms.

    My government's programs for people-to-people exchanges and economic cooperation with North Korea 
may expand with progress in the resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue.

(Bilateral Relations between the EU and Korea)

    Since the establishment of diplomatic ties four decades ago, Korea-EU relations have developed into a 
mature partnership we enjoy today. I am pleased to note that, in this era of deepening interdependence, a 
strong partnership between the EU and Korea continues to be nurtured.  Our shared values of democracy 
and the market economy provide a firm basis on which such a partnership can flourish.

    The bilateral trade volume between us reached about 44 billion US dollars last year, and the EU became 
the largest foreign investor in Korea. This rapid increase in trade and investment serves as solid ground for 
closer cooperation on security issues. Furthermore, the EU enlargement will generate further momentum 
and reasons for Korea to expand cooperation in every field.

    In this regard, I have high expectations that the upcoming ASEM Foreign Ministers Meeting in April and 
ASEM summit in October will provide an invaluable opportunity to expand the mutually rewarding 
relationship.  We also look forward to preparing for the President's visit to Europe in the near future, to forge 
still stronger bonds of mutual cooperation and dynamic partnership with an integrated Europe.

(Closing)

    Now, before closing my speech, let me emphasize once again, that the Korean government will be 
constant in its endeavors to address various major security issues, including the consolidation of the ROK-
US alliance, our policy toward North Korea and the Six-Party Talks.

    I can assure you that the Korean government is committed to maintaining social stability, economic 
dynamism and national security, and to restoring normalcy as soon as possible.

    So let me finish by stating my conclusion today, which is: You can be sure of the consistent management of 
your investments and business relations in Korea, as ever.

    Thank you very much for your attention.  /End/