Ambassador Speeches

"U.S.-Korea Relations in Transition"

Remarks by The Ambassador Thomas C. Hubbard
to the Korean Military Academy Alumni Association

8:00 A.M., Tuesday, March 25
War Memorial Museum Hall

Chairman Park, General Paik, General Chung, distinguished guests and alumni:

Thank you, General Chung, for your generous introduction, and for the delicious breakfast. In another part of this museum there is an exhibit on how ROK soldiers lived on the front line during the Korean War, and part of that exhibit describes the rations the soldiers received. I am grateful for the wonderful food you served today, especially as I contemplate that a small, cold ball of rice was all that a Korean soldier could expect to eat during the war, if he was fortunate enough to get any food at all. That willingness to sacrifice made possible the success that is the Republic of Korea today.

The two buildings in Seoul which contain Korea's most heartrending stories are this museum, which vividly portrays the heartbreak and tragedy of war, and the memorial hall at the National Cemetery across the river. When we see the hauntingly young faces in the photographs of the officers and enlisted men who were killed defending Korea more than 50 years ago, and when we see the black ribbons and flowers on these photographs, we empathize with the mothers and fathers, the brothers and sisters, and the wives and children who loved them, who still remember them, and who still grieve for them. These faces remind me of the old saying, "No one hates war more than a soldier."

The men of the ROK armed forces set an example for the world some fifty years ago. As those who fought alongside them know, ROK soldiers bravely struggled to stop the North Korean onslaught, sometimes forced to rely on makeshift weapons. They took on T-34 tanks with satchel charges and crow bars; they even dropped bombs on the invading columns by hand from unarmed training airplanes. With sufficient training and adequate armament and equipment, the South Korean forces eventually proved to be superior. By the end of the war, they held much of the front line, what is now the DMZ.

Of equal importance to the role the ROK armed forces played in defending the nation during wartime, many years ago, is the continued service of Korea's young men in the years since. The armed forces of the Republic of Korea and the United States have stood watch together on "Freedom's Frontier" every day and every night since the signing of the Armistice Agreement on July 27, 1953, almost 50 years ago. The young men and women of our two armed forces have provided the shield behind which Korea transformed itself, over the years, from a war-torn, agricultural country to a modern and developed nation with a solid infrastructure and industrial base, and a standard of living that is the envy of countries all over the world. Friends, none of this service and sacrifice has been forgotten. Indeed, it is remembered each time we look at the marvelous accomplishments that Korea has achieved thanks to them.

Korea's economic development and its transition to democracy have both been facilitated by our long-standing defensive alliance. The U.S. commitment to help defend the Republic of Korea remains a vital factor in regional security. That commitment is as firm today as ever.

I am sure that all of you, as either active duty or retired military personnel, have spent a great deal of time thinking about the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. There is probably no greater contrast to the free, democratic, and prosperous Republic of Korea than North Korea, a land whose people suffer for want of basic necessities such as adequate food and clean water, where the people are isolated, human rights are ignored, and where most lack any information about the outside world. The people of North Korea are the innocent victims of a regime with badly misguided priorities.

Out of the many unfortunate political and economic choices North Korea has made, perhaps the most misguided one has been to start down a dangerous path, working to develop both nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them. These reckless actions threaten the security and stability of South Korea, Northeast Asia, and indeed, the entire world. They also defy the international system of non-proliferation, designed to limit the spread of these deadly and fearsome weapons, which the DPRK signed and agreed to abide by. The DPRK has broken promises to both of our countries and all signatories of the Nonproliferation Treaty by taking this course.

North Korea's challenge to both regional and global peace and security concerns us all, and must be addressed by a combination of concerned states in a multilateral approach. The United States continues to consult with the Republic of Korea, as well as with Japan, China, and Russia, all of whom agree that the presence of nuclear weapons anywhere on the Korean Peninsula is unacceptable.

In addition, the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency has referred its concerns about North Korea's actions to the United Nations Security Council. The international community agrees that North Korea cannot simply abandon its commitments and obligations regarding non-proliferation. Not only would such weapons be unacceptable due to the risk that North Korea could use them, but also because the North could sell or give nuclear weapons or fissile material to terrorist enemies of the international community.

I think you are all aware that the horrible events of September 11, 2001, changed forever the way that we in the United States look at the world. For me personally, for Americans everywhere, indeed for all peace-loving people in the world, these attacks represented a new low in vicious and indiscriminate cruelty. It is worth remembering that human beings from 80 nations of the world, including the Republic of Korea, perished horribly on that dark day. The magnitude of a terrorist attack on the United States using a nuclear weapon would be many times greater than that of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. We have no illusions about the ruthlessness of our terrorist enemies. We are also aware that North Korea has a history of selling weapons indiscriminately to any nation with hard cash to spend.

As we explore together possible ways to resolve the challenge posed by North Korea's reckless actions, we are fully aware that it is the Republic of Korea that is most immediately and directly threatened by Pyongyang, and that the ROK would have the most to lose if conflict ever erupted again on the Peninsula. For this reason, we all agree that this issue can and should be resolved peacefully, through dialogue and diplomacy. President Bush has made this clear many times, most recently in his phone call with President Roh some ten days ago.

A year ago, on his visit to Korea, my President stated clearly that we have no intention of invading North Korea, and US leaders have stressed repeatedly that we have no aggressive intentions against North Korea. We have proposed a multilateral dialogue with North Korea about how it can fulfill its international obligations to dismantle its nuclear weapons program. Such a dialogue could offer Pyongyang a way out of its self-imposed isolation and a way to improve the lives of its people. The United States, South Korea, Japan, China, Russia - so many nations - want to help the people of North Korea: to feed them, give their children an education, to invest in North Korea. But none of this will happen until the North agrees to engage positively with the international community. Regrettably, Pyongyang has yet to do so.

North Korea's shortsighted pursuit of nuclear weapons places the future well-being of all Koreans at risk. For the last fifty years, each generation of Koreans living in the South has achieved greater prosperity than their parents could have ever dreamed of. Your children and grandchildren have every right to expect the same. However, these aspirations are jeopardized by the reckless actions of the North, just as the safety and prosperity of earlier generations were destroyed or undermined by the Korean War and the years of threats and incursions from the North which followed it. The U.S. and the Republic of Korea will do everything we can to peacefully resolve this threat.

Another point that President Bush made, and that I wish to reaffirm here today, is the value he places on our long-standing alliance. Our commitment to help Korea defend its security remains as firm as ever. This does not mean that there cannot be changes and modifications in our relationship that reflect the dynamic times in which we live. Both Americans and Koreans agree that our two countries should enjoy an equitable and balanced relationship, a relationship that reflects the realities of this new century and the contributions each of us can make to our alliance.

To cite one example of how our relationship is evolving, last December our two defense ministers agreed to conduct a joint study on the challenges and opportunities that our two militaries will face in the 21st century. Among these challenges is the environment of increasing urbanization in which our forces operate. This has caused us to examine how to maintain deterrence while minimizing the impact our forces have on the land and people of Korea. One answer is to reduce the number of bases we maintain in Korea, consolidating them for greater efficiency. To do this, we are implementing the jointly developed and agreed upon Land Partnership Plan; this will return to the Korean government nearly half of all the land which U.S. bases now use.
We are also keenly aware of both the physical and psychological consequences of maintaining a large base in the heart of the nation's capital. As you may remember, our Yongsan base used to be on the outskirts of Seoul, but the city has long since grown all around it. Together with the government of the Republic of Korea, we are considering alternative locations for our base in Yongsan and will move as soon as a new facility is ready.

It is important that we remember that our alliance extends beyond the defense of the Republic of Korea. As time goes by, the promotion and maintenance of regional security will undoubtedly become a steadily more important aspect of our alliance. We are grateful for Korean support as we pursue the war in Iraq and plan for peace and reconstruction there.

Of course, our alliance is broader and deeper than our military partnership. Korea and the United States have a close and important economic relationship. Both Korea and the United States benefit when both of our economies are strong. We have a common appreciation for the benefits of free trade. Koreans, like other members of the global trading community, understand why open markets and the free flow of goods and services are essential.

Korea and the United States are important trading partners. In 2002, according to statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. exported $22 billion worth of goods and services to Korea, and imported $35 billion worth from Korea. The trade partnership between Korea and the U.S. will remain a vital and important part of our relationship.

Korea accomplished a great deal in terms of economic reform during the administration of former President Kim Dae-jung. We are confident that President Roh Moo-hyun will continue along the path to reform; he has stressed the importance of continued corporate reform, transparency, and accountability. A program of continued reform goes hand in hand with President Roh's evolving concept of Korea as the economic hub of Northeast Asia.

In addition to a military alliance and trade and commercial ties, our bilateral relations also have an important personal dimension. This year we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the first Korean immigration to the United States. There are now nearly two million Koreans in the United States. Whether they are fourth generation or recent immigrants, Korean-Americans are known as hard workers, diligent students, and strong believers in the American Dream. We Americans consider ourselves a nation of immigrants, and Koreans have enriched us as a nation in many ways.

What does the future hold for relations between Korea and the United States? The past year has been difficult in many respects, but our alliance remains fundamentally strong, because we believe in many of the same core principles-democracy, freedom of speech, the rule of law, and free markets. In the face of new threats from North Korea, a country whose people enjoy none of these freedoms, our alliance is more important than ever.

The election of President Roh is a significant reflection of Korean people's openness to change. Just as there is change in Korea's political landscape, there is change in its relationships with other countries. The U.S.-Korea relationship is evolving, which is a healthy and positive sign, because conditions in Korea, the United States, and the world are changing. As we look to the future of our relationship, and as we adapt our relationship to changing circumstances, I am confident that our partnership will remain soundly based on the common principles we hold dear. All Koreans, regardless of age, gender, occupation, or home province, have a vital and personal stake in maintaining democracy, peace, and prosperity. These things will keep us together.

As we move into the future together and recall the sacrifices we have made as allies and friends, our relationship and our partnership will remain on solid ground, and will be more than strong enough to overcome any challenge we may face. Of this, I am confident.

Thank you. I will now be happy to take your questions.