Speeches and Transcripts
Governance 21 Club “Breakfast Seminar” –
“A Global Role for the U.S.-Korea Partnership”
Ambassador Kathleen Stephens
Seoul Palace Hotel (Banpo-dong), Royal Ballroom (2F)
February 28, 2009, 7:30 – 9:20 a.m.
Introductory Remarks
(Delivered in Korean)
Thank you, Mr. Lee Hyung-yong (이형용), for that thoughtful introduction. Thank you also Minister Lee Maa-nee (이만의) for inviting me to join all of you this morning. Let me also acknowledge Minister Chung Jong-hwan (정종환), Korea University President Lee Ki-su (이기수) and Sogang University President Sohn Byung-doo.
As you know, one week ago, we had Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in town. I was delighted that she chose Asia for her first overseas trip. I believe this is a good demonstration of the importance of the Asia-Pacific region for the United States.
In Seoul, Secretary Clinton had very productive meetings with Foreign Minister Yu, Prime Minister Han and President Lee. A strong theme in all those meetings was the desire of our two countries to broaden and deepen our alliance relationship. This is because we want our relationship to be more than just a regional partnership based on security. Both our countries are now recognizing that we are moving toward a global strategic alliance that is based on shared commitments and values.
This morning, I would like to talk about how we can work together to take our alliance to the next level and tackle the shared challenges of the 21st century. This is a work in progress and I would very much like your views and comments on whether we are on the right track.
(Delivered in English)
Before that, though, let me say something about governance, the subject which all of you gather each month to examine and explore – over breakfast. My own perspective is that governance – at least good governance – is all about making good decisions in an accountable and transparent way, responsive to the needs of the people and their democratically expressed wishes, and guided by the rule of law.
I think this is a perspective that Koreans and Americans share. We expect our leaders to act in our best interests, to listen and to respond. And when they don’t, we feel we have every right to raise our voices and make ourselves heard.
We know that the preservation of our hard-won democratic rights requires constant vigilance and we all feel the debt of gratitude we owe the forebears who secured those rights.
Last week, Korea mourned the passing of one such figure, Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan. Along with feelings of sorrow and loss, his departure from this world occasioned reflection on how much Korea has changed, and what a significant agent of that change Cardinal Kim was. For his was an example not just for Koreans. Having spent six years in this country during the 1980s, I remember vividly his voice of reason and conscience.
I accompanied the DCM to meet him in October 1985; Cardinal Kim told us he was urging the government to allow for the revision of the constitution.
Secretary Clinton called him “a great spiritual leader … [who] will be remembered by… all who care about democracy, human rights, and human dignity.”
Shared Values and History
Democracy, human rights, human dignity: These are all things people in both our countries hold dear. It is these shared values along with our shared history and shared experience that underpin the U.S.-ROK relationship.
Last year, marked the 60th anniversary of the ROK. It was also the 55th anniversary of our Mutual Defense Treaty and Armistice. We fought together, first in the Korean War, then in Vietnam. Missionaries and Peace Corps volunteers came to Korea, and Korean students continue to pursue their studies in the U.S.
Both of our countries value democracy, a crucial ingredient to good governance. In the U.S., President Obama was elected on a platform of “change,” but as Secretary Clinton made very clear, there is no change in the importance with which the new administration views the U.S.-Korea alliance. In fact, the Obama Administration is eager to work with Korea to broaden and deepen that relationship. As Secretary Clinton put it, “it is more than just a regional partnership; it is becoming a global strategic alliance.”
We also value human rights. The ROK is a leader in human rights and a natural partner for the U.S. in the spread of democracy and human rights, as seen through the Asia-Pacific Democracy Partnership (APDP) and Community of Democracies.
Despite the crisis in the financial markets and recession in the global economy, our two countries share a firm commitment to the principles of an open, market-oriented economy. We believe that trade improves the welfare of our people and that protectionism is the wrong path, especially in times like these. We are committed to working together, bilaterally and through the G-20.
Pillars of the U.S.-ROK Alliance
Grounded in our shared history, shared experience, and shared values, our alliance has grown and adapted to changing circumstances over the years. It is now a multifaceted relationship characterized by enduring, interwoven ties.
Our alliance rests on four pillars. First, the security relationship on the Korean Peninsula: Our security alliance -- having kept the peace for 55 years -- is now evolving, and we are raising our sights -- both higher and broader. On January 15, we signed the SMA (Special Measures Agreement), which provides a five-year roadmap for the management of U.S. forces stationed in Korea. Today, as we hear reports of missile-related activity and rising tensions along the Northern Limit Line, we continue to stand firmly together. As Secretary Clinton said, “There is no issue on which we are more united than North Korea.”
Second, in economy and business, we enjoy a dynamic economic relationship including vast two-way flows of trade and investment, shared prosperity, and a common approach to the current crisis. President Obama told Congress on February 24 that in order to respond to the global financial crisis, the U.S., like Korea, is “working with the nations of the G-20 to restore confidence in our financial system (and) avoid the possibility of escalating protectionism.” As a major world economy, Korea has an important role to play in shaping reforms for the global financial system. Korea’s perspective is especially valuable given its own experience with the Asian Financial Crisis.
We are also pleased Korea will be one of the troika countries (along with the UK and Brazil) drawing up the agenda for next G-20 summit in April. The U.S. greatly values the contributions of President Lee Myung-bak to the G-20 process. At the November 15 G-20 summit in Washington, President Lee proposed a “standstill” on any new protectionist measures on trade or investment, which was readily adopted by the G-20. Just this week, President Lee also put forth a proposal at the Global Korea Forum for a “Global Deal” orchestrated through the G-20 and involving a coordinated stimulus plan through fiscal expansion.
As both Secretary Clinton and her ROK government interlocutors emphasized repeatedly during the Secretary’s visit, our countries share a common stance on protectionism: we want to prevent it now more than ever as we utilize all tools available to get through the present economic difficulties.
And there’s the KORUS FTA. Our two governments worked hard to negotiate an ambitious trade agreement that could not just create greater economic opportunity for citizens in both our countries but also encourage other countries in the region to open their markets and strengthen the rule of law. Ratifying a large trade agreement like this is a complex process, in both our countries. That process is further complicated by the current global economic slowdown, as well as the historic turmoil in the U.S. auto industry right now. But I believe that if we are patient, and pragmatic, we can get to a point where we can move forward on the FTA. As Secretary Clinton noted when she was here a week ago, we want to work together to deepen our trade relationship in a manner that benefits both sides. I urge our Korean friends to give our new team in Washington some time to get in place, and suggest that in the meantime, we resist the temptation to politicize this situation, as well as continue our work together as allies and friends – in the G-20, in APEC, and bilaterally. A great example of our cooperative work is the $30 billion currency swap arrangement, which was extended by mutual agreement earlier this month -- to speed the global recovery from the economic downturn we are experiencing.
Third, in the area of social, cultural, and people-to-people ties, we are bound by deep ties, based on our shared history of sacrifice and success. The U.S.–ROK relationship is strengthened by a substantial soft power element. There are some two million Korean-Americans in the U.S. More than 800,000 Korean tourists visited U.S. last year. On a per capita basis, Koreans represent the largest foreign student population in the U.S. With the Visa Waiver Program and WEST program, these ties will only grow stronger.
At Ewha University, Secretary Clinton described how we could benefit from even stronger personal networks and partnerships between not just government officials, but people in business, academia, the professions, and NGOs, facilitating cooperation on global issues of shared concern. She could just as well have been describing the composition of Governance 21’s membership. You appear to be ideally poised to play an important role in the cooperation of which the Secretary spoke.
The fourth pillar is U.S.-Korea global cooperation. Building on the success of our alliance, it is now time to take the U.S.-ROK relationship to the next level, to broaden and deepen the scope of our cooperation in order to address shared challenges. Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan called this transition the development of a “future-oriented strategic alliance.” Secretary Clinton said our aim was a vision for a “global strategic alliance.” So we agree on where we need to go and, in fact, are already taking the first steps toward that goal.
Regional Peace and Security: Korean Peninsula
Looking at the Korean Peninsula and the region, our top priority is to ensure South Korea's security -- always with the goal of peace on the peninsula. As Secretary Clinton clearly stated on her visit, the U.S. continues to stand with the ROK in pursuit of this goal. North Korea will not have a better relationship with the U.S. as long as it continues to refuse dialogue with the ROK and behave in a provocative manner. The DPRK will not succeed in driving a wedge between Washington and Seoul.
Secretary Clinton’s visit was also an occasion to affirm our continued commitment to the Six-Party Talks. We continue to believe it is the right process by which to achieve our objective of a denuclearized North Korea. We will continue to consult with our Six-Party colleagues as we work toward a resumption of the process. In the meantime, the North must abide by its agreements, the Joint Statement, and UNSCR 1718.
Secretary Clinton reiterated the Six-Party, action-for-action bargain: “If North Korea is genuinely prepared to completely and verifiably eliminate (its) nuclear weapons program, the Obama Administration will be willing to normalize bilateral relations, replace the armistice agreement with a peace treaty, and assist in meeting its energy, economic, and humanitarian needs.”
Demonstrating the seriousness of our commitment, Secretary Clinton announced the appointment of Ambassador Stephen Bosworth as a Special Representative for North Korean Policy. He will report directly to the Secretary and the President in that capacity. Though no details are available yet, President Obama and Secretary Clinton have decided to dispatch Ambassador Bosworth next week to consult with our Six-Party allies and partners on North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats to regional security.
We are aware of the press reports that North Korea may be preparing to launch a rocket carrying a communications satellite into orbit and may be building an underground missile fueling facility. We have long expressed our concerns regarding North Korea’s missile development efforts. UNSCR 1718 prohibits North Korea from engaging in missile-related activities and decides that the DPRK should re-establish a moratorium on missile launching. Even if the DPRK characterizes this long-range missile test as a space launch, it would be inconsistent with UNSCR 1718. North Korea should refrain from any provocative actions that might aggravate tensions in the region and focus on denuclearization instead.
Though the North Korean nuclear threat is the most immediate, other challenges and opportunities for our alliance lie beyond the peninsula. And we are beginning to engage in joint cooperation in a number of these areas.
U.S.-Korea Global Cooperation
Secretary Clinton has described U.S. foreign policy as being like a three-legged stool, with Defense, Development, and Diplomacy components. As we have learned, a strong defense is not always enough to achieve our common aims. Development and Diplomacy are also critical. Today, we are starting to see U.S.-ROK cooperation in all three of these areas.
In the area of defense, the U.S. and Korea are cooperating on many fronts around the world. The ROK’s Zaytun division in Iraq is a great example of the US-ROK global partnership. They did an outstanding job in Iraq’s Kurdistan region and made important contributions to the progress in Iraq.
On January 20, the ROK Cabinet approved the government's plan to send a naval ship to join the international efforts combating piracy in the Gulf of Aden. The USG is pleased by this news and welcomes it as a positive development demonstrating the ROK's willingness to be a global partner in combating piracy.
We also welcome the news of Korea’s plans to make additional contributions to the stabilization and reconstruction of Afghanistan and its joint initiative with Japan on projects there. In this regard, the Obama Administration has appointed Richard Holbrooke as the Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Turning to development, Korea has gone from being a recipient of development assistance to becoming a donor of development assistance. In 2007, South Korean contributions for Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) was approximately 625 billion won ($680 million), and it has announced it plans to triple that ODA by 2015. In addition, KOVA, the Korea Overseas Volunteer Association, sends 1,500 volunteers to work in 32 countries around the world. In Cambodia, they teach and renovate schools and libraries and plan to do the same in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. Another 2,500 returned volunteers here in Korea are now involved in programs to help Koreans better understand the countries where they have worked.
As Secretary Clinton noted while she was here, the U.S. is interested in exploring cooperative opportunities with Korea on development issues. I believe there are many possibilities for this. And they are not limited to our traditional development assistance agencies.
One example of ongoing cooperation already taking place involves the U.S. National Institute of Health and the Korean Ministry of Health, Welfare and Family Affairs. These agencies have funded, on an equal footing, the International Tuberculosis Research Center (ITRC) that was tasked with the discovery and development of new pharmaceutical drugs to combat multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, a serious and growing health threat and an issue of global concern. I am looking forward to participating next Monday (March 2) in an event to re-launch the Research Center as an independent foundation.
On the diplomacy front, in addition to the G-20 and Six-Party Talks, the Obama Administration would like to work closely with Korea as we approach the next UN climate change conference in Copenhagen (UNFCCC COP15) in December. To underscore this, Secretary Clinton brought the new Special Envoy for Climate Change, Todd Stern, with her on her visit to Asia. Our mission will ultimately be, as President Obama said, “To call together a true global coalition to protect our climate and our collective security.”
Domestically, President Obama has signaled a renewed U.S. commitment to lead on climate change by announcing a series of actions to: improve vehicle fuel efficiency, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce dependence on oil imports. The President has further called for mandatory cap-and-trade legislation, expedited development of Plug-in Hybrid vehicles, and increases in the production and use of renewable energy
The U.S. intends to negotiate an agreement in Copenhagen that will stimulate real, dramatic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. We believe aggressive efforts and participation by all major economies, including Korea, will be required, and we have begun discussions on how best to structure an effective agreement during the lead-up to the conference.
It may come as a surprise to you that the U.S. and Korea have already begun to cooperate on climate change and clean energy. For example, Korea and the United States are founding members of the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (APP) launched in 2006. The APP carries out a variety of cooperative projects to develop and transfer technology for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
In another cooperative initiative, the Methane to Markets program, for which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency chairs the steering committee, Seoul National University participates in a program to improve livestock waste management for methane recovery. LG International is also involved in a program to extract methane from landfills using a series of wells and a vacuum system.
Korea and the United States are also partners on several initiatives on the development of clean fuels. The International Partnership on the Hydrogen Economy, for example, was established to accelerate the development of commercially viable hydrogen fuel cells, and the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum currently seeks to advance the development of carbon capture and storage technologies.
In making the announcement of the appointment of Mr. Stern, Secretary Clinton said, "If we are smart and bold, we can turn the climate crisis into an economic opportunity that creates jobs, generates growth, enhances our competitive edge, and ensures greater prosperity in the 21st century." This encapsulates the thinking behind the Obama Administration’s Green New Deal. It’s quite similar, I think, to President Lee Myung-bak’s Low Carbon Green Growth Economy language. It just goes to show that this is another area in which we have a common approach to a shared global challenge and where we stand to gain by working together more closely.
Strategic Alliance for the 21st Century
(Delivered in Korean)
So we’ve looked briefly this morning at where our alliance has been and where it is now. We’ve also looked at areas in which we are taking steps toward what I call the next level, a strategic Alliance for the 21st century. Cooperation on global financial issues is certainly one such area. Coordination to thwart pirates off the Somali coast and our efforts to stabilize volatile parts of the world such as Afghanistan are other cases in point. But there is so much more that is possible, so much more we could do: ODA-related exchanges, for example, and more extensive cooperation on climate change.
As both Foreign Minister Yu and Secretary Clinton described last week, in order to realize the full potential of our partnership not just bilaterally and regionally, but globally, we need to further develop our alliance, to articulate a vision for a strategic alliance that meets the demands of the 21st century. This is the next step, and what is exciting for groups like Governance 21 is that it will not be merely a government to government effort. No, in addition to using our robust diplomacy and development tools, we need to foster partnerships between people in the private sector, academia, and NGOs, too. I’m sure there will be a role for many of you as we make our alliance broader, deeper, and a more effective means to address the global challenges we all face together.
Thank you.