열린장관실

 

 

Statement by H.E. Ban Ki-moon Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade,the Republic of Korea at North Atlantic Council, NATO

2 December 2005

 

 

 Brussels Secretary General Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, Distinguished Representatives of NATO member countries,

 

[NATO and Korea]

 

It is truly an honor for me to be here with you today as the first Korean government official to address this august body. Let me begin by expressing my heartfelt appreciation to you all for the kind invitation and warm welcome I have received.

 

On behalf of the Korean people, I would like to convey our sincere gratitude to those NATO member countries who valiantly sacrificed so much during the Korean War. We in Korea have never forgotten and will never forget that, as friends in need you are friends indeed.

 

Over the last few decades, we have witnessed significant changes in the international order, calling for greater inter-regional security cooperation. Indeed, my visit today, the first ever by a Korean Foreign Minister is itself a reflection of the evolving security environment in the post-Cold War era.

With this in mind, I would now like to share some thoughts on the security environment in Northeast Asia, with a particular focus on the Korean Peninsula and the North Korean nuclear issue.

 

[The Security Situation in Northeast Asia]

 

Excellencies,

 

The impact of the tectonic shifts which came with the fall of the Berlin Wall has of course been felt around the world. Northeast Asia has been no exception. But, these shifts have proven to involve a mix of both positive and negative implications.

 

On the positive side, states have broken free of the fetters of ideologies of the past to achieve more beneficial relations. In the midst of globalization and the spread of the market economy, Northeast Asia has been serving as an engine for growth in the world economy. An ever-deepening interdependence among the countries is being witnessed across the region. And with the ensuing growth in people-to-people and cultural exchanges, states are gaining a deeper understanding of one another.

Yet there are elements of uncertainty evident in the regional security landscape. Vestiges of the Cold War still linger in some parts of the region. Concerns are running high with territorial disputes and problems stemming from a painful past, competition to secure energy resources, as well as the rise of exclusive nationalism.

 

Now the task before the Northeast Asian countries is clear. We should do our best to prevent negative elements from coming to the fore and overtaking positive developments. There is a pressing call for the building of a durable order of stability in the region.

 

Excellencies,

 

I am convinced that the cross-Atlantic experience will serve as an outstanding model for multilateral security cooperation in Northeast Asia. After World War II, Europe, on the basis of the collective defense provided by NATO, has successfully consolidated an order of peace and integration. Developing cooperative security through the OSCE has also been an important element in this process.

In the post-Cold War era, Europe is moving beyond collective defense to achieve comprehensive and cooperative security. Countries now unite in their efforts to work together to tackle both traditional and new security threats. A comprehensive concept of security encompasses both the political and military fields, extending also to the safeguarding of individuals as well as respect for human rights.

 

The challenge for Northeast Asia is how to build multilateral security cooperation similar to that in Europe. However, conditions differ greatly and require more stringent efforts. The North Korean nuclear issue is one of the critical challenges in the efforts to shape a stable security order in the region.

 

[The North Korean Nuclear Issue]

 

Excellencies,

 

The participants in the Six-Party Talks have been striving to achieve substantive progress in the endeavours to peacefully resolve the North Korean nuclear issue. Such efforts have yielded fruit with the Joint Statement adopted at the fourth round held last September setting out the basic goals and principles for the resolution of the issue. This statement is of great significance in four regards.

 

Firstly, agreement was reached on the common objectives for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. North Korea clearly expressed its intention to renounce all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs.

 

Secondly, the parties also agreed on comprehensive corresponding measures such as the normalization of relations between the US and North Korea, and between Japan and North Korea, as well as economic cooperation in the fields of energy, trade and investment. The groundwork was laid for multilateral agreement to comprehensively address the political, economic and security concerns of North Korea.

 

Thirdly, it also marked a  first step in efforts to move beyond the resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue towards removing the Cold War legacies. It offered promise for durable peace on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia as a whole. As progress has been made towards resolving the North Korean nuclear issue, discussions on a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula will take place in an appropriate separate forum between the parties directly concerned. This was reaffirmed in the Joint Declaration adopted at the summit between Korea and the US on 17 November 2005.

 

Fourthly, the resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue through the Six-Party process is of critical importance to the strengthening of the global non-proliferation regime to counter weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

 

Excellencies,

 

I do not have any intention of downplaying the challenges before us. A good start has been made, but we are still a long way from achieving a complete resolution of the issue. Yet ensuring a nuclear free Korean Peninsula is an imperative task. Indeed, it is vital not only for peace in Northeast Asia but indeed the world. My government is determined to rise to this task, making every possible effort in close cooperation with the countries concerned. In this endeavor, I once again count on the continued encouragement and support of all our NATO friends.

 

[Inter-Korean Relations]

 

Excellencies,

 

My government is seeking inter-Korean reconciliation and progress in the Six-Party process in a harmonious manner. Improvements in inter-Korean relations are being pursued under the broad framework of the ‘policy of peace and prosperity.’ The essence of this policy is to allow peace to take deeper root through the peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue, to lay the groundwork for unification through greater reconciliation and exchanges between South and North Korea, and to ultimately contribute to peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia.

 

 

With the pursuit of this policy, inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation have expanded, following substantial progress in various initiatives. These include the connection of the inter-Korean highways and railroads, the Gaesong Industrial Complex, and the Geumgang Tourism Project across the Demilitarized Zone. The Gaesong Industrial Complex, in particular, situated only 5 km to the north of the Military Demarcation Line, holds important symbolism not only for growing economic interdependence but also for confidence-building between South and North Korea. The Korean government remains committed to promoting inter-Korean dialogue and reconciliation for the realization of the shared goal of a peaceful and nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.

 

[Multilateral Security Cooperation in Northeast Asia and the ROK-US Alliance]

 

Excellencies,

 

One may ask why Korea is so keen to develop an order of peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia. History tells us that Korea has prospered in times of peace but has suffered the most whenever conflicts erupted in the region. We have then to ask ourselves how we can prevent history from repeating itself.

 

What is needed above all is a strong deterrence to prevent another conflict in the region. In this regard, the most crucial mechanism has been the bilateral alliances with the US as a central axis. This bilateral alliance has over the last fifty years played a decisive role in maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, just as NATO has done in Europe. Building on the achievements over the last five decades, the alliance structure is going through a historic transformation to enable it to address the new security environment with greater resilience and effectiveness.

 

The Six-Party Talks currently under way bring together all the major players in the Northeast Asian region. It is my firm belief that, once the North Korean nuclear issue is peacefully resolved through the Six-Party process, a deeper sense of mutual trust will develop and pave the way for multilateral cooperative security mechanism in Northeast Asia. In fact, in the Joint Statement adopted last September, the six parties agreed to explore ways and means to promote security cooperation in Northeast Asia.

On a different track, other arrangements such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the Northeast Asia Cooperation Dialogue (NEACD) are also evolving. The ARF, as the sole inter-governmental mechanism that also brings together  all the six parties in the region, is deepening security discourse starting with issues which are easier to tackle. A 1.5 track dialogue like the NEACD will take some time to develop into a Track I mechanism. But, it is worthwhile pursuing these two efforts simultaneously. They together constitute an important step in nurturing a habit of security dialogue in Northeast Asia.

 

[ROK-NATO Cooperation]

 

Excellencies,

 

In the post-Cold War era, NATO, coupled with its geographical expansion, is shaping a new role for itself, including through the maintenance of international peace, crisis management, disaster relief, and humanitarian assistance.

 

We have seen the gradual expansion of NATO activities both in terms of geography and scope. We salute NATO member countries for their noble endeavors to do more to help those in need.

 

Korea, which benefited from the help provided by a number of NATO member countries half a century ago, is now trying to pay back its debt by playing a due part commensurate with its international standing.

 

Building on its achievement of economic development and a mature democracy Korea seeks to enhance its cooperation, contribution and competitiveness at the regional and global levels.

 

Korea, as a force for cooperation, stands ready to do its best to promote cooperative security in Northeast Asia and beyond. Korea is determined to promote cooperation in the region to the best of its capabilities in line with the lessons and experiences learned from history. In terms of contribution, Korea intends to increase official development assistance (ODA) and actively participate in peace-keeping operations (PKO). Having doubled its ODA over the past five years, Korea plans to redouble it by 2008. Korea will do its best to make a substantive contribution to the cause of peace and reconstruction of those in dire need around the globe. In doing so, Korea will maximize upon its competitiveness gained in its unique experience as a model country in terms of a successful transition within one generation to full democracy and an open market economy.

 

Korea and NATO share common values such as democracy, respect for human rights and an aspiration for peace. Currently we are acting together for peace and stability, as well as reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan.

 

 The global nature of new security threats calls for  greater inter-regional cooperation. Terrorism is an imminent challenge that we have to tackle cooperatively. Moreover, non-traditional issues such as avian influenza and climate change may have an impact on our national and regional security interests. Yet, they cannot be resolved by one nation or one region alone. My government also seeks opportunities to work with organizations such as NATO in promoting more effective and swift rescue and relief work to cope with international natural disasters such as last year's Tsunami.

 

 I hope that my visit on this occasion will serve as a valuable opportunity to explore possibilities for further cooperation between NATO and Korea, including through the exchange of high-level visits and other activities.

 

Excellencies,

 

I would now like to conclude by extending my heartfelt thanks to Secretary General de Hoop Scheffer and the NATO Secretariat for the excellent preparations made for this occasion, as well as to all the representatives of NATO member countries for the steadfast support they have rendered to Korea.

 

Thank you for your kind attention.

/END/