열린장관실

Opening Remarks

27 February, 2024

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Dr. Cuellar, thank you for the kind words.

I am delighted to have the opportunity to be with you and Carnegie’s leading experts in foreign affairs, all the staunch supporters of the ROK-US Alliance.

It's a great pleasure for me to visit the Carnegie Endowment especially because this is my first visit here.

President Biden has said that we are in a defining decade. I think the main question that's in everyone's mind is what it will look like afterwards. For Korea, that means whether North Korea will continue its aggressive rhetoric and intent, and increase its nuclear and missile capabilities. And whether it would use them to achieve its misplaced goal to conquer the entire Korean peninsula.

It means whether Korea would be able to protect its drivers of growth like high-tech, semi-conductors, and bio-technology against non-market driven competition and sometimes outright theft. How can we, at the same time, promote free and rules-based trade with major markets of the world.

It means whether average Koreans would be able to enjoy the freedoms and rights guaranteed by rule of law and democracy. Whether we can protect them against the rising forces of authoritarianism and their drive to create and expand spheres of influence in which might makes right.

Each of you will have many insightful answers to these questions. And I look forward to hearing them. But let me briefly touch upon three broad themes that Korea is working on to shape our future trajectory on the three different levels.

First on the Korean Peninsula level is the "3D Strategy," that is deterrence, dissuasion and diplomacy. Deterrence reduces the utility of North Korean nuclear weapons. Any North Korean nuclear attack will be met with a swift, overwhelming and decisive response by the alliance. Dissuasion makes their weapons production more costly by cutting off North Korea's various illicit revenue streams. And diplomacy, through Korea's Audacious Initiative, opens the door for negotiations. The Audacious Initiative is Korea’s plan to significantly improve North Korea’s economy and its people’s livelihoods if it ceases its nuclear weapons development and embarks on a genuine and substantive denuclearization process. The strategy aims to create an environment in which North Korea has no choice but to denuclearize. Korea believes that the strategy is viable and will continue to robustly implement it.

Second on the regional level is the "Indo-Pacific Strategy." Korea is committed to fostering an Indo-Pacific region that is free, peaceful and prosperous. We believe that the best way to accomplish this is by bolstering a rules-based order, encouraging greater protection of freedom, democracy, and human rights and by assisting countries in the region in their efforts to secure the necessary capabilities and resources. We are working through 9 lines of efforts that include cooperation in rule of law, comprehensive security and development cooperation. Korea has recently announced its implementation plan as well. Korea-US-Japan cooperation is also a key element of this strategy as is the case for ASEAN centrality.

And third on the global level is the "Values-based diplomacy." President Yoon said democracy is the only system that can safeguard freedom. Korea strongly believes that freedom spurs creativity, that human rights ensure individual dignity, and that democracy fosters prosperity for the many. Korea also understands that the values we stand for must be protected and nurtured. That is why we co-hosted the 2nd Summit for Democracy last year and look to host the third Summit in March. That is why we strongly advocate for freedom and human rights for North Koreans. And that is why we support the G9 called for by Ron Klain in his Carnegie Endowment commentary. Simply, more like-minded countries need to pool their resources to meet today's challenges that are increasingly systemic, transcendent, intensive, and complex.

The critical thread that holds these themes together is the "global comprehensive strategic alliance" between our two countries. President Yoon's State Visit last year was indeed historic in every sense. The Washington Declaration and the creation of the NCG bolstered our deterrence against North Korea. The scope of our cooperation encompasses not only security and economy but economic security, supply chain, and critical new frontiers like high-tech, information, space, and cyber. Our collaboration takes place in the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East and Europe.

That is why I made my first bilateral visit as Foreign Minster to the US. And there are three main objectives for my visit. One is to meet Secretary Blinken and discuss ways to follow through on the agreements made by the leaders. We will prioritize our work and commit to accomplishing them this year with laser focus. We will plan ahead and create opportunities for the leaders to meet.

Two is to showcase that the alliance is aligned in the vision, values, and interest; that there is no daylight between us; that commitment to the alliance is robust and iron-clad; and that the support for the alliance is bipartisan and broad based. This becomes all the more important as adversaries try to sow doubt in the alliance through disinformation.

And three is to seek deeper insight into ways to better foster mutual growth and prosperity. Reportedly Korean firms have invested more than $110 billion during the Biden Administration creating 70,000 jobs. For the first time in 20 years, Korea’s monthly export to the US has surpassed that with China. We will work to ensure that our companies fully enjoy the benefits provided by the US legislations. We will also seek ways to allow more talented Koreans to work in the US.

Let me end by recognizing how much the alliance has developed during the last decade. When I visited the US as Vice Minister almost 10 years ago, people asked whether Korea was tilted more towards China than the US, and whether Korea and Japan could move beyond the comfort women issue at all.

Today we talk more about how together we can engage and compete with China based on rules and principles. We talk about how President Yoon was able to move forward our long-stalled relations with Japan with his courageous leadership. And how Korea-US-Japan can institutionalize the spirit and principles of Camp David and operationalize our commitment to consult.

Such positive developments make prospects for the next 70 years of our alliance brighter and more optimistic. I look forward to discussing with you on how we could do better working together. Thank you.