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Korean General Assembly, 2/27/89 [2]
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Document No. 007665
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
DATE: 02/15/89
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY: 5:00 pm 02/16/89
1. THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF KOREA
2. BLUE HOUSE LUNCH TOAST
SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS:
3. AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
MCCLURE
R
SUNUNU
NEWMAN
SCOWCROFT
PORTER
DARMAN
STUDDERT
BATES
UNTERMEYER
ROGERS
BREEDEN
>
WINSTON
CARD
CICCONI
BOSKIN
ROSE
DEMAREST
FITZWATER
GRAY
HAGIN
REMARKS:
Please provide any comments/recommendations directly to Chriss
Winston (Rm. 122, x2930) by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, 02/16, with
an info copy to my office. Thanks.
RESPONSE:
James W. Cicconi
Assistant to the President
and Deputy to the Chief of Staff
Ext. 2702
1330 FEB 15 PM 3. 55
(McIntyre)
February 15, 1989
3:30 p.m.
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF KOREA
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
FEBRUARY 27, 1989
Mr. Speaker, Members of the National Assembly of the
Republic of Korea, and distinguished guests:
I'm honored by your invitation to address this body today.
I stand in your Assembly as Presidents Eisenhower, Johnson, and
Reagan have stood before me. And I reaffirm, as they did,
America's support, friendship, and respect for the Republic of
Korea and its people.
As a former member of the United States House of
Representatives, I take particular pleasure in coming to this
legislative chamber where the freely elected representatives of
Korea's own democratic success story meet to debate and to
implement the will of the Korean people.
I know that there must be times when this body, just like
the United States Congress, is full of sound and fury, noise and
acrimony. But that is the nature of democracy, and we wouldn't
have it any other way. As the great statesmen Winston Churchill
[for]
once said, "Democracy is the worst form of Government except all
those others forms that have been tried from time to time."
2
This is my first major address on foreign soil since
becoming the 41st President of the United States of America. My
visit here today reflects the importance I place on the relations
between our two countries, the strength of our nations' ties, and
the promise that our relationship holds for the future of the
world.
My inauguration as President a month ago represented a
tradition in the United States that speaks of both continuity and
change. Continuity and change will also be the guideposts of
relations between the United States and Korea in the years ahead.
Where change is needed or inevitable, let us be a positive force
for change. Where continuity is our mandate, let us go forward,
resolute in our commitment to democracy and human rights.
Throughout, let our close economic and strategic relationship be
a constant.
I first came to the Asia-Pacific region during World War II
more than 45 years ago. I was a teenager -- 19 years old -- and
I flew torpedo bombers in the United States Navy. It was then,
for the first time in my life, that I truly appreciated the cost
of freedom. Believe me, I have never forgotten.
In the early years following World War II, the future of
Korea and of all Asia was very much in doubt. It was a time of
great struggle -- between Korea's hope for freedom and
3
prosperity, and the lingering legacies of war, poverty, and
colonial rule.
On a June morning in 1950, the Communist army of the north
smashed into the Republic of Korea intent on destroying your
nation. Without hesitation or delay, American forces rushed to
your aid. Together, Americans and Koreans fought side-by-side
for your right to be sovereign and independent.
I remember the devastation of your country. Your cities lay
in rubble. Your factories were in shambles. Millions of your
people wandered the streets homeless and hungry.
In 1951, in the midst of the war, General Douglas MacArthur
addressed a Joint Session of our Congress. He spoke of you,
saying, "The magnificence of the courage and fortitude of the
Korean people defies description." As he spoke those words, our
Congress interrupted him with applause for you and your people.
After the war, you overcame every imaginable hardship.
History will long record your story -- how in less than a
generation you stepped out of the shadow of tyranny and into the
light of liberty and economic opportunity.
Today Korea is a rising nation
a vibrant, dynamic
nation
a nation riding the crest of the wave of the future.
4
Never before has the pride and the progress of your nation
been more evident than last summer when this magnificent city
played host to the 24th Olympic Games. Nearly 10,000 athletes
from 160 nations were here. Another 3 billion people watched on
television. What they saw -- from the moment Sohn Kee Chung
carried the torch into your Olympic Stadium until the last embers
of the Olympic flame were extinguished at the closing ceremonies
oneof
(sTud.)
-- was the most spectacular sports festivals in the history of
STud.
mankind.
You played host to the world, and what a truly gracious host
you were. Congratulations.
Indeed, the past several years have seen the emergence of
the entire Asia-Pacific region. My trip -- beginning in Japan,
stopping in China, and finishing here in Korea -- stands as
testimony to that reality, and what it means to the future of the
world. As Mike Mansfield, the venerable former Ambassador to
(Bates)
Japan, has said many times in recent years, "The next century
will be the century of the Pacific." As usual, Mike Mansfield's
words are right on the mark.
Today, Asia is one of the hubs of the earth -- economically,
politically, and diplomatically. The Republic of Korea stands at
the fore. You are a world-class commercial competitor; your
commitment to democracy is demonstrated daily in this chamber;
5
and your creative diplomacy -- your Nordpolitik -- is reshaping
relations in and beyond the Asia-Pacific.
?
In my recent meetings with Prime Minister Takeshita of
Japan, China's Deng Xiaoping, and with you and your political
leaders, I have discussed challenging bilateral, global, and
regional issues. Our discussions have been marked at all times
by a spirit of friendship and cooperation.
I have come here today in that same spirit. I have no
desire to lecture. The United States has no desire to dominate.
Rather, I am here as the leader of a faithful friend and a
dependable ally. I am here today to ensure that we continue to
work together in all things.
Our most important mission together is to maintain the
freedom and democracy you fought so hard to win. As President, I
am committed to maintaining American forces in Korea in support
of our Mutual Defense Treaty as long as the threat from the North
continues, and for as long as the Korean people wish them to
remain. In the years ahead, we must work together to meet the
evolving security needs of the Korean Peninsula.
Peace through strength is a policy that has served the
security interests of our two nations well. However, deterrence
alone will not be enough to ensure the comprehensive security
needs of the Korean people in the years ahead. We must
6
complement deterrence with an active diplomacy in search of
dialogue with our adversaries, including North Korea.
The American people share your goal of peaceful unification
on terms acceptable to the Korean people. It is for that reason
(lilley)
that we actively support the peaceful initiatives of President Roh to
build bridges to the North. I will work closely with President
(Lilley)
Roh to coordinate our efforts to draw the North toward practical PEACE
Ful
and productive dialogue, to ensure that our policies are
complementary and mutually reinforcing.
I have spoken of the need for vigilance, strength, and
diplomacy to deter aggression and preserve peace. There is
another source of strength, and it is well represented in this
Assembly. The development of democratic political institutions
is the surest means to build the national consensus that is the
foundation of true security.
Just as we must work together to achieve better security, we
must also work together to achieve greater economic prosperity.
inspiration
(Butes)
The progress of the Korean economy is an model for developing
countries throughout the world. By unleashing the diligence and
creativity of your people, you have led Korea into an era of
unprecedented opportunity and prosperity. Korea has become an
industrial power, a major trading power, and a first world-class (STUD.)
competitor.
(Lilley) You are fufilling the prophtcy of
the Indian poet Tagore who wrote, "KOREA, ONCE
a 62ight light of the go Iden age of Asia, ifitis
relit, it will be the light of the EAst."
Korea was once called the "Hermit Kingdom.' Today it
deserves to be called an "Economic Kingdom. All Koreans can
take pride in what you have achieved.
Yet we also cannot overlook that your economic success has
created concerns in the management of our bilateral economic
relations. For the American people, and for the Korean people as
(Butes)
(reducing)
well, managing down our bilateral trade imbalance will be both a
challenge and an opportunity. The challenge will be to resist
the call for protectionism; the opportunity will be to expand our
economic prosperity.
We both have a lot at stake. You are our seventh largest
trading partner, larger than many of our traditional European
trading partners -- and our trade is growing. The United States
second
imports.
is both Korea's largest market and largest source of supplies.
We are also a leading source of the investment and technology
that you will need to fuel further economic growth and
development.
Korea's economy has benefitted greatly from the free flow of
trade. Yet today, in many countries, there is a call for greater
protectionism. I am asking you to join the United States in
rejecting these short-sighted pleas.
to be
Protectionism is fool's gold. Protectionism may seem like Gray)
the easy way out, but it is really the quickest way down.
(Bates)
8
Nothing will stop the engine of Korea's economic growth faster
than new barriers to international trade.
I want for Korean consumers what American consumers already
enjoy: high-quality, low-priced goods and services from all over
the world. Protectionism will hurt the Korean consumer by
cutting competition, driving up prices, and robbing them of the
freedom of choice.
Yes, we have made progress in this area. American exports
to Korea are up. Tariffs are down, and its non-tariff barriers are
Korean
(Bates)
(Lilley)
The SENVICE SEctor is opening
down, too. A But more needs to be done. And I want our two
nations to work together to do what still needs to be done.
As one of the world's major trading powers, the Republic of
Korea sets an example for other nations who are watching what you
(Lilley)
do. As an emerging economic leader, you invitably must shoulder important
responsibilities to ensure the continued strength and stability
of the global marketplace. You, the representatives of the
Korean people, will face the challenge to continue to open
domestic markets, to improve living standards and to adopt
exchange rate
(Bates)
4
appropriate international financial policies that reflect your
standing as a prosperous and powerful trading nation.
The United States shares similar responsibilities for the
well-being of the world economy. Our two peoples should, at all
times, bear in mind that our trading system is truly an
9
international "joint venture," and that we share a special
responsibility for its continued success.
My friends, and yes, you are my friends, I began today by
talking about my inauguration as the new President of the United
States just a few short weeks ago. The tradition of passing the
torch of leadership from one American president to another is a
time when we celebrate the strength of our democracy and a time
when we renew our commitment to the values on which it is built.
Today I am renewing my commitment to you, as the leader of
one sovereign state to the elected, legislative body of another.
I am renewing my commitment to you to work together for the good
of our peoples and of all humanity.
In the years ahead, the United States will stand with you.
We will stand with you against the forces of oppression, and for
the forces of peace, prosperity, and independence.
From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for the warmth and
hospitality you have bestowed upon me and my wife, Barbara.
Thank you. And God bless you.
####
1989 FEB 15 PM 7: 23
(McIntyre)
February 15, 1989
4 p.m.
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: BLUE HOUSE LUNCH TOAST
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
FEBRUARY 27, 1989
Thank you
Thank you all very much.
I am truly moved by your gracious hospitality and kindness
on my return to Seoul. On behalf of my wife, Barbara, and me,
let me thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Since I was last here in 1982, it seems as though an entire
new city has arisen. Once again I am astounded by the vitality
and ingenuity of the Korean people.
A generation ago, Korea was a battle weary, devastated land.
Your hopes for peace, prosperity and independence were threatened
by the legacy of war, poverty, and colonial rule. But today,
(Gray)
after
less than four decades since our two nations fought side-by-side
against oppression, the Republic of Korea is recognized as an
emerging economic and democratic power. Today, Korea stands
proudly in the midst of an unprecedented era of prosperity and
opportunity.
Your progress economically has been matched by your progress
toward a stronger democracy. Mr. President, you have both led
and responded to your people's strivings for democracy. On
behalf of the United States, I salute your dedication to
democracy, human rights, and respect for the individual.
I am here today as the leader of a nation which will
continue to be a faithful friend and a dependable ally to Korea.
We applaud the responsible way you have opened a dialogue with
North Korea and we remain committed to the security and freedom
of your nation. We will not -- ever -- waver in that commitment.
We look forward to remaining a flexible and supportive partner as
you explore the exciting possibilities of Nordpolitik.
Now, may I propose a toast to President Roh, to the Korean
people, and to a continued Korean-American relationship of mutual
respect, understanding, and trust.
####
1989 FEB 15 PM 7:23
(McIntyre)
February 15, 1989
5:30 p.m.
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
FEBRUARY 27, 1989
It is an honor and a pleasure to visit with you today.
Barbara and I just wish we had more time to spend with all of
you. ((But we've got to catch our plane and get home to take the
dog out
so I won't be long.))
? n
On behalf of the American people I want to thank the
Americans who are here, and those who could not be here, for the
job you're doing and the sacrifices you're making to be so far (Gray)
from home, your families, and your friends.
To the Koreans here today, I want to thank you for the new
friendships you offer, and the absolutely wonderful welcome
you've given us.
on (Gray)
I came to Korea today, in my first presidential trip outside
of North America, to reaffirm our alliance with the Republic of
Korea, which is vital to the security, political, and economic
interests of the United States.
Earlier today I visited with President Roh at the Blue
House, and then spoke to the National Assembly. All of our talks
have been marked by a spirit of friendship and cooperation. I
told the President and the members of the National Assembly that
the United States will remain a faithful friend and a dependable
ally in the years ahead.
The United States will continue to stand with Korea against
outside aggressors. We will continue to support Korea's
democratic processes and diplomatic initiatives. And let me
just say that as a former Ambassador, I respect the job our
diplomats are doing in helping to shape and carry out our foreign
policy.
We will continue to work with Korea to nurture more open
appropriate exchange rates
(Bates)
markets ^ and greater economic growth. The American business
Check with NSC m
community is well represented here today, and your efforts are
vital to our future competitiveness.
this
America's commitment to the Republic of Korea is
demonstrated, in large part, by the presence of all of you. To
the men and women of America's armed forces, you can take great
pride in the contribution you're making to preserving peace on
the Korean Peninsula.
I've been to the DMZ. Believe me, I know what you face
day-by-day. And as your Commander-in-Chief, I salute you.
In the first several weeks since my inauguration, you may
have heard that I have been emphasizing the importance of public
service. There is no higher calling than to serve your country.
attract
In assembling my new Administration I have tried to hire
(Gray)
honorable men and women who share my conviction that a public
office is a public trust.
Well, many of you are public servants. You may be a long
way from home but your willingness and dedication to serve do not
go unnoticed. I appreciate your work. Our government
appreciates your work. And the American people appreciate your
work.
Being here has given us a renewed energy and a renewed
commitment to work with the Republic of Korea to build a new era
of peace and prosperity.
Thank you for everything you do.
####
Document No. 007665
0893
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
DATE: 02/15/89
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY: 5:00 pm 02/16/89
1. THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF KOREA
2. BLUE HOUSE LUNCH TOAST
SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS:
3. AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
MCCLURE
\
SUNUNU
11
à
NEWMAN
SCOWCROFT
PORTER
DARMAN
R
STUDDERT
BATES
UNTERMEYER
ROGERS
BREEDEN
1
>
WINSTON
CARD
\
CICCONI
BOSKIN
\
ROSE
DEMAREST
FITZWATER
GRAY
HAGIN
REMARKS:
Please provide any comments/recommendations directly to Chriss
Winston (Rm. 122, x2930) by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, 02/16, with
an info copy to my office. Thanks.
RESPONSE:
TO: CHRISS WINSTON
February 17, 1989
The NSC concurs with changes noted.
Brent Ant Scowcroft
BAELBIE #8: St
James W. Cicconi
Assistant to the President
CC Jim Cicconi
and Deputy to the Chief of Staff
Ext. 2702
89 FEB 16 A 8: 24
1333 FEB 15 PM 3. 55
(McIntyre)
February 15, 1989
3:30 p.m.
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF KOREA
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
FEBRUARY 27, 1989
Mr. Speaker, Members of the National Assembly of the
Republic of Korea, and distinguished guests:
I'm honored by your invitation to address this body today.
I stand in your Assembly as Presidents Eisenhower, Johnson, and
Reagan have stood before me. And I reaffirm, as they did,
America's support, friendship, and respect for the Republic of
Korea and its people.
As a former member of the United States House of
Representatives, I take particular pleasure in coming to this
legislative chamber where the freely elected representatives of
Korea's own democratic success story meet to debate and to
implement the will of the Korean people.
I know that there must be times when this body, just like
Contention, emotion, and fumult.
the United States Congress, is full of sound and fury, noise and
sound
at work
acrimony But that is the nature of democracy, and we wouldn't
have it any other way. As the great statesmen Winston Churchill
once said, "Democracy is the worst form of Government except all
those other forms that have been tried from time to time."
2
This is my first major address on foreign soil since
becoming the 41st President of the United States of America. My
visit here today reflects the importance I place on the relations
between our two countries, the strength of our nations' ties, and
the promise that our relationship holds for the future of the
world.
My inauguration as President a month ago represented a
tradition in the United States that speaks of both continuity and
change. Continuity and change will also be the guideposts of
relations between the United States and Korea in the years ahead.
Where change is needed or inevitable, let us be a positive force
for change. Where continuity is our mandate, let us go forward,
Freedom.
resolute in our commitment to democracy and human rights.
Throughout, let our close economic and strategic relationship be
a constant. remains, as it is, a pillar of the structure of peace in East
Asia.
this region during a was
I first came to the Asia Pacific region during World War II] II
more than 45 years ago. I was a teenager -- 19 years old -- and
I flew torpedo bombers in the United States Navy. It was then,
value
for the first time in my life, that I truly appreciated the cost
and the price we pay to keep it,
of freedomA Believe me, I have never forgotten.
In the early years following World War II, the future of
Korea and of all Asia was very much in doubt. It was a time of
great struggle -- between Korea's hope for freedom and
3
twin menaces of war and invasion.
prosperity, and the/lingering legacies of war, poverty, and
colonial rule
On a June morning in 1950, the Communist army of the North
smashed into the Republic of Korea intent on destroying your
the
of the United states and
nation. Without hesitation or delay, American forces rushed to
many other coun tries
your aid. Together, Americans and Koreans fought side-by-side
determine your own future.
for your right to be sovereign and independent
I remember the devastation of your country. Your cities lay
in rubble. Your factories were in shambles. Millions of your
people wandered the streets homeless and hungry.
In 1951, in the midst of the war, General Douglas MacArthur
Kerea
addressed a Joint Session of our Congress. He spoke of you,
saying, "The magnificence of the courage and fortitude of the
Korean people defies description." As he spoke those words, our
Congress interrupted him with applause for you and your people.
After the war, you overcame every imaginable hardship.
History will long record your story -- how in less than a
generation you stepped out of the shadow of tyranny and into the
light of liberty and economic opportunity. You can be proud of
the miracle you have achieved. And we are proud to be associated
with you.
Today Korea is a rising nation
a vibrant, dynamic
nation
a nation riding the crest of the wave of the future.
4
Never before has the pride and the progress of your nation
been more evident than last summer when this magnificent city
played host to the 24th Olympic Games. Nearly 10,000 athletes
from 160 nations were here. Another 3 billion people watched on
television. What they saw -- from the moment Sohn Kee Chung
carried the torch into your Olympic Stadium until the last embers
of the Olympic flame were extinguished at the closing ceremonies
-- was [the most spectacular sports festival CELL the chistory of
an incredibly
mankind.
You played host to the world, and what a truly gracious host
you were. Congratulations.
witnessed
Indeed the past several years have seen the emergence of
the entire Asia-Pacific region. My trip -- beginning in Japan,
stopping in China, and concluding finishing here in Korea -- stands as
testimony to that reality, and what it means to the future of the
world. As Mike Mansfield, the venerable former Ambassador to
Japan, has said many times in recent years, "The next century
will be the century of the Pacific. "
As usual, Mike Mansfield's
words are right on the mark.
most dynamic areas on
Today, Asia is one of the hubs of the earth -- economically,
politically, and diplomatically. The Republic of Korea stands at
economic power
the fore. You are a world-class commercial competitor; your
commitment to democracy is demonstrated daily in this chamber;
5
Bold
and your creative diplomacy -- your Nordpolitik -- is reshaping
relations in and beyond the Asia-Pacificregion.
In my recent meetings with Prime Minister Takeshita of
Japan, China's Deng Xiaoping, and with you and your political
leaders, I have discussed challenging bilateral, global, and
regional issues. Our discussions have been marked at all times
by a spirit of friendship and cooperation.
I have come here today in that same spirit. I have no
desire to lecture. The United States has no desire to dominate
Rather, I am here as the leader of a faithful friend and a
dependable ally. I am here today to ensure that we continue to
work together in all things.
Our most important mission together is to maintain the
freedom and democracy you fought so hard to win. As President, I
and to
am committed to maintaining American forces in Korea support
of our Mutual Defense Treaty, long as
There are no plans to reduce U.S.
forces in Korea. Our soldiers and airmen are there at the
request of the Republic of Korea to deter aggression from the
North and their presence contributes to the peace and stability of
northeast Asia. They will remain in the Republic of Korea as
long as, the government and the people of South Korea want us to them to
remain
and as theyere neededexed
there long as we believe it is in the interest of peace to keep them
In the years ahead, we must work together to meet the
evolving security needs of the Korean Peninsula.
Las
equal
partners
Peace through strength is a policy that has served the
security interests of our two nations well.
However,
deterrence
alone will not to comprehensive security
needs or the korean people.in the And XV We must
6
complement deterrence with an active diplomacy in search of
dialogue with our adversaries, including North Korea.
The American people share your goal of peaceful unification
on terms acceptable to the Korean people. It is for that reason
that we actively support the initiatives of President Roh to
build bridges to the North. I will work closely with President
Roh to coordinate our efforts to draw the North toward practical
and productive dialogue, to ensure that our policies are
complementary and mutually reinforcing.
I have spoken of the need for vigilance, strength, and
diplomacy to deter aggression and preserve peace. There is
another source of strength, and it is well represented in this
Assembly. The development of democratic political institutions
is the surest means to build the national consensus that is the
From its birth as a nation America has sought to
foundation of true security Childipthe lamp of liberty and democracy and the
Korea's joining the smiths of the deniveracces
American people join me, today in celebrating
within a democratic Frame-
Just as we must work together to achieve better security we
work,
must also work together to achieve greater economic prosperity
within the system of free and open international trade.
The progress of the Korean economy is a model for developing
countries throughout talented the world. By unleashing the [liligence] energies and
creativity of your people, you have led Korea into an era of
unprecedented opportunity and prosperity. Korea has become an
industrial power, a major trading power, and a world-class
competitor.
prosperity through participation
IT has achieved great
in the international trading
7
system that has made
the nations of free Asia
the envy of the world.
of Korea
Korea was once called the "Hermit Kingdom.
Today ist the Republic
"International
because
deserves to be called an "Economic Kingdom,"^ All Koreans can
take pride in what you, have achieved. as a people, have wrought.
Yet we also cannot overlook that your economic success has
created concerns in the management of our bilateral economic
relations. For the American people, and for the Korean people as
well, managing down our bilateral trade imbalance will be both a
challenge and an opportunity. The challenge will be to resist
the
[the] calls for protectionism; the opportunity will be to expand OUR
prosperity of both countries.
We both have a lot at stake. You are our seventh largest
trading partner, larger than many of our traditional European
trading partners -- and our trade is growing. The United States
is both Korea's largest market and largest source of supplies.
We are also a leading source of the investment and technology
that you will need to fuel further economic growth and
development.
Korea's economy has benefitted greatly from the free flow of
trade. Yet today, in many countries, there is a call for greater
protectionism. I am asking you to join the United States in
rejecting these short-sighted pleas.
Protectionism is fool's gold. Protectionism may seem like
the easy way out, but it is really the quickest way down.
8
Nothing will stop the engine of Korea's economic growth faster
than new barriers to international trade.
I want for Korean consumers what American consumers already
enjoy: high-quality, low-priced goods and services from all over
the world. Protectionism will hurt the Korean consumer by
cutting competition, driving up prices, and robbing them of the
freedom of choice. source of our collective prosperity. and both
The international market place has been the
countries
Korea and the united States will continue to prosper in direct
proportion to our unfettered participation in the free and open
Yes, we have made progress in this area. American exports exchange
of goods
to Korea are up. Tariffs are down, and non-tariff barriers are and
but I am confident that
down, too. But more needs to be done And I want our two
services.
nations 1 to work together to accomplish do what still needs to be done.
Can
As one of the world's major trading powers, the Republic of
Korea sets an example for other nations who are watching what you
do. As an emerging economic leader, you must shoulder important
responsibilities to ensure the continued strength and stability
of the global marketplace. You, the representatives of the
Korean people, will face the challenge, to continue to open
domestic markets, to improve living standards, and to adopt
appropriate international financial policies that reflect your
standing as a prosperous and powerful trading nation.
The United States shares similar responsibilities for the
well-being of the world economy. Our two peoples should, at all
times, bear in mind that our trading system is truly an
9
international "joint venture," and that we share a special
responsibility for its continued success.
I Weon
My friends, and yes, you are my friends, I began today by
talking about my inauguration as the new President of the United
States just a few short weeks ago. The tradition of passing the
torch of leadership from one American president to another is a
time when we celebrate the strength of our
inserv for P.T
IS
Asian
As I reflect over the last forty years of, history, in Asia the
trends remain remarkably positive, from an American point of view.
lay
Whereas at the end of the second world War Asia was in ruins. and
whereas in the 1950s, and even in the 1960s the forces of radical
revolution, at times appeared to be the wave of the future. in the
1980s, we see an asia in which American aspirations regarding
liberty, democracy, and prosperity have become almost universal.
And most important of all, as we stand here in your national for Korea;
assembly, these three aspirations are no longer a far-off dreamm
instead they -through your devotion and hard work have become a
reality and we salute you.
celebrate your triumph.
they
human aspirations for basic political and economic
freedoms have become almost universal and can no longer
be denied.
Thank you. And God bless you.
# # # #
Document No. 007665
action Harvey
CC M.1B SL TEM
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
DATE: 02/15/89
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY: 5:00 pm 02/16/89
1. THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF KOREA
2. BLUE HOUSE LUNCH TOAST
SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS:
3.
AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
MCCLURE
SUNUNU
NEWMAN
SCOWCROFT
PORTER
DARMAN
STUDDERT
BATES
UNTERMEYER
ROGERS
BREEDEN
WINSTON
CARD
CICCONI
BOSKIN
ROSE
DEMAREST
FITZWATER
GRAY
HAGIN
REMARKS:
Please provide any comments/recommendations directly to Chriss
Winston (Rm. 122, x2930) by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, 02/16, with
an info copy to my office. Thanks.
RESPONSE:
see typoon P#1
James W. Cicconi
Assistant to the President
and Deputy to the Chief of Staff
Ext. 2702
Document NO.
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
DATE: 02/15/89
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY: 5:00 pm 02/16/89
1. THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF KOREA
2. BLUE HOUSE LUNCH TOAST
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS:
SUBJECT:
3.
AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
MCCLURE
R
SUNUNU
NEWMAN
SCOWCROFT
PORTER
DARMAN
STUDDERT
BATES
UNTERMEYER
ROGERS
BREEDEN
WINSTON
CARD
CICCONI
BOSKIN
DEMAREST
ROSE
FITZWATER
GRAY
HAGIN
REMARKS:
Please provide any comments/recommendations directly to Chriss
Winston (Rm. 122, x2930) by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, 02/16, with
an info copy to my office. Thanks.
RESPONSE:
James W. Cicconi
Assistant to the President
and Deputy to the Chief of Staff
Ext. 2702
1330 FEB 15 FM 3. 55
(McIntyre)
February 15, 1989
3:30 p.m.
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF KOREA
SEOUL, SOUTH. KOREA
FEBRUARY 27, 1989
Mr. Speaker, Members of the National Assembly of the
Republic of Korea, and distinguished guests:
I'm honored by your invitation to address this body today.
I stand in your Assembly as Presidents Eisenhower, Johnson, and
Reagan have stood before me. And I reaffirm, as they did,
America's support, friendship, and respect for the Republic of
Korea and its people.
As a former member of the United States House of
Representatives, I take particular pleasure in coming to this
legislative chamber where the freely elected representatives of
Korea's own democratic success story meet to debate and to
implement the will of the Korean people.
I know that there must be times when this body, just like
the United States Congress, is full of sound and fury, noise and
acrimony. But that is the nature of democracy, and we wouldn't
have it any other way. As the great statesmen Winston Churchill
once said, "Democracy is the worst form of Government except all
those other forms that have been tried from time to time." "
2
This is my first major address on foreign soil since
becoming the 41st President of the United States of America. My
visit here today reflects the importance I place on the relations
between our two countries, the strength of our nations' ties, and
the promise that our relationship holds for the future of the
world.
My inauguration as President a month ago represented a
tradition in the United States that speaks of both continuity and
change. Continuity and change will also be the guideposts of
relations between the United States and Korea in the years ahead.
Where change is needed or inevitable, let us be a positive force
for change. Where continuity is our mandate, let us go forward,
resolute in our commitment to democracy and human rights.
Throughout, let our close economic and strategic relationship be
a constant.
I first came to the Asia-Pacific region during World War II
more than 45 years ago. I was a teenager -- 19 years old -- and
I flew torpedo bombers in the United States Navy. It was then,
for the first time in my life, that I truly appreciated the cost
of freedom. Believe me, I have never forgotten.
In the early years following World War II, the future of
Korea and of all Asia was very much in doubt. It was a time of
great struggle -- between Korea's hope for freedom and
3
prosperity, and the lingering legacies of war, poverty, and
colonial rule.
On a June morning in 1950, the Communist army of the north
smashed into the Republic of Korea intent on destroying your
UN
nation. Without hesitation or delay, American forces rushed to
your aid. Together, Americans and Koreans fought side-by-side
for your right to be sovereign and independent.
I remember the devastation of your country. Your cities lay
in rubble. Your factories were in shambles. Millions of your
people wandered the streets homeless and hungry.
In 1951, in the midst of the war, General Douglas MacArthur
addressed a Joint Session of our Congress. He spoke of you,
saying, "The magnificence of the courage and fortitude of the
Korean people defies description." As he spoke those words, our
Congress interrupted him with applause for you and your people.
After the war, you overcame every imaginable hardship.
History will long record your story -- how in less than a
generation you stepped out of the shadow of tyranny and into the
light of liberty and economic opportunity.
Today Korea is a rising nation
a vibrant, dynamic
nation
a nation riding the crest of the wave of the future.
4
Never before has the pride and the progress of your nation
been more evident than last summer when this magnificent city
played host to the 24th Olympic Games. Nearly 10,000 athletes
from 160 nations were here. Another 3 billion people watched on
television. What they saw -- from the moment Sohn Kee Chung
carried the torch into your Olympic Stadium until the last embers
of the Olympic flame were extinguished at the closing ceremonies
-- was the most spectacular sports festival in the history of
mankind.
You played host to the world, and what a truly gracious host
you were. Congratulations.
Indeed, the past several years have seen the emergence of
the entire Asia-Pacific region. My trip -- beginning in Japan,
stopping in China, and finishing here in Korea -- stands as
testimony to that reality, and what it means to the future of the
world. As Mike Mansfield, the venerable former Ambassador to
Japan, has said many times in recent years, "The next century
will be the century of the Pacific." As usual, Mike Mansfield's
words are right on the mark.
Today, Asia is one of the hubs of the earth -- economically,
politically, and diplomatically. The Republic of Korea stands at
the fore. You are a world-class commercial competitor; your
commitment to democracy is demonstrated daily in this chamber;
5
and your creative diplomacy -- your Nordpolitik -- is reshaping
relations in and beyond the Asia-Pacific.
In my recent meetings with Prime Minister Takeshita of
Japan, China's Deng Xiaoping, and with you and your political
leaders, I have discussed challenging bilateral, global, and
regional issues. Our discussions have been marked at all times
by a spirit of friendship and cooperation.
I have come here today in that same spirit. I have no
desire to lecture. The United States has no desire to dominate.
Rather, I am here as the leader of a faithful friend and a
dependable ally. I am here today to ensure that we continue to
work together in all things.
Our most important mission together is to maintain the
freedom and democracy you fought so hard to win. As President, I
am committed to maintaining American forces in Korea in support
of our Mutual Defense Treaty as long as the threat from the North
continues, and for as long as the Korean people wish them to
remain. In the years ahead, we must work together to meet the
evolving security needs of the Korean Peninsula.
Peace through strength is a policy that has served the
security interests of our two nations well. However, deterrence
alone will not be enough to ensure the comprehensive security
needs of the Korean people in the years ahead. We must
6
complement deterrence with an active diplomacy in search of
dialogue with our adversaries, including North Korea.
The American people share your goal of peaceful unification
on terms acceptable to the Korean people. It is for that reason
that we actively support the initiatives of President Roh to
build bridges to the North. I will work closely with President
Roh to coordinate our efforts to draw the North toward practical
and productive dialogue, to ensure that our policies are
complementary and mutually reinforcing.
I have spoken of the need for vigilance, strength, and
diplomacy to deter aggression and preserve peace. There is
another source of strength, and it is well represented in this
Assembly. The development of democratic political institutions
is the surest means to build the national consensus that is the
foundation of true security.
Just as we must work together to achieve better security, we
must also work together to achieve greater economic prosperity.
The progress of the Korean economy is a model for developing
countries throughout the world. By unleashing the diligence and
creativity of your people, you have led Korea into an era of
unprecedented opportunity and prosperity. Korea has become an
industrial power, a major trading power, and a world-class
competitor.
7
Korea was once called the "Hermit Kingdom." Today it
deserves to be called an "Economic Kingdom." All Koreans can
take pride in what you have achieved.
Yet we also cannot overlook that your economic success has
created concerns in the management of our bilateral economic
relations. For the American people, and for the Korean people as
well, managing down our bilateral trade imbalance will be both a
challenge and an opportunity. The challenge will be to resist
the call for protectionism; the opportunity will be to expand our
economic prosperity.
We both have a lot at stake. You are our seventh largest
trading partner, larger than many of our traditional European
trading partners -- and our trade is growing. The United States
is both Korea's largest market and largest source of supplies.
We are also a leading source of the investment and technology
that you will need to fuel further economic growth and
development.
Korea's economy has benefitted greatly from the free flow of
trade. Yet today, in many countries, there is a call for greater
protectionism. I am asking you to join the United States in
rejecting these short-sighted pleas.
Protectionism is fool's gold. Protectionism may seem like
the easy way out, but it is really the quickest way down.
8
Nothing will stop the engine of Korea's economic growth faster
than new barriers to international trade.
I want for Korean consumers what American consumers already
enjoy: high-quality, low-priced goods and services from all over
the world. Protectionism will hurt the Korean consumer by
cutting competition, driving up prices, and robbing them of the
freedom of choice.
SOME
Yes, we have made progress in this area. American exports
to Korea are up. Tariffs are down, and non-tariff barriers are
down, too. But more needs to be done. And I want our two
nations to work together to do what still needs to be done.
As one of the world's major trading powers, the Republic of
Korea sets an example for other nations who are watching what you
do. As an emerging economic leader, you must shoulder important
responsibilities to ensure the continued strength and stability
of the global marketplace. You, the representatives of the
Korean people, will face the challenge to continue to open
domestic markets, to improve living standards, and to adopt
appropriate international financial policies that reflect your
standing as a prosperous and powerful trading nation.
The United States shares similar responsibilities for the
well-being of the world economy. Our two peoples should, at all
times, bear in mind that our trading system is truly an
9
international "joint venture," and that we share a special
responsibility for its continued success.
My friends, and yes, you are my friends, I began today by
talking about my inauguration as the new President of the United
States just a few short weeks ago. The tradition of passing the
torch of leadership from one American president to another is a
time when we celebrate the strength of our democracy and a time
when we renew our commitment to the values on which it is built.
Today I am renewing my commitment to you, as the leader of
one sovereign state to the elected, legislative body of another.
I am renewing my commitment to you to work together for the good
of our peoples and of all humanity.
In the years ahead, the United States will stand with you.
We will stand with you against the forces of oppression, and for
the forces of peace, prosperity, and independence.
From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for the warmth and
hospitality you have bestowed upon me and my wife, Barbara.
Thank you. And God bless you.
####
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
February 16, 1989
MEMORANDUM FOR CHRISS WINSTON
DEPUTY ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT
FOR COMMUNICATIONS
FROM:
NELSON LUND nf
ASSOCIATE COUNSEL TO THE PRESIDENT
SUBJECT:
Presidential Remarks:
1) National Assembly of Korea
2) Blue House Lunch Toast
3) Ambassador's Residence, Seoul, South Korea
At James Cicconi's request, Counsel's office has reviewed the
captioned draft remarks. Apart from several minor editorial
suggestions, marked directly on the attached draft remarks,
Counsel's office has no objections.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity for this review.
Attachment
Document No. 007665
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
DATE: 02/15/89
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY: 5:00 pm 02/16/89
1. THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF KOREA
2. BLUE HOUSE LUNCH TOAST
SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS:
3. AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
MCCLURE
R
SUNUNU
NEWMAN
SCOWCROFT
PORTER
DARMAN
STUDDERT
BATES
UNTERMEYER
ROGERS
BREEDEN
>
WINSTON
CARD
CICCONI
BOSKIN
DEMAREST
ROSE
FITZWATER
GRAY
HAGIN
REMARKS:
Please provide any comments/recommendations directly to Chriss
Winston (Rm. 122, x2930) by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, 02/16, with
an info copy to my office. Thanks.
no comments
RESPONSE:
XX
James W. Cicconi
Assistant to the President
and Deputy to the Chief of Staff
Ext. 2702
1330 FEB 15 PM 3. 55
(McIntyre)
February 15, 1989
3:30 p.m.
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF KOREA
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
FEBRUARY 27, 1989
Mr. Speaker, Members of the National Assembly of the
Republic of Korea, and distinguished guests:
I'm honored by your invitation to address this body today.
I stand in your Assembly as Presidents Eisenhower, Johnson, and
Reagan have stood before me. And I reaffirm, as they did,
America's support, friendship, and respect for the Republic of
Korea and its people.
As a former member of the United States House of
Representatives, I take particular pleasure in coming to this
legislative chamber where the freely elected representatives of
Korea's own democratic success story meet to debate and to
implement the will of the Korean people.
I know that there must be times when this body, just like
the United States Congress, is full of sound and fury, noise and
acrimony. But that is the nature of democracy, and we wouldn't
have it any other way. As the great statesmen Winston Churchill
once said, "Democracy is the worst form of Government except all
those other forms that have been tried from time to time."
2
This is my first major address on foreign soil since
becoming the 41st President of the United States of America. My
visit here today reflects the importance I place on the relations
between our two countries, the strength of our nations' ties, and
the promise that our relationship holds for the future of the
world.
My inauguration as President a month ago represented a
tradition in the United States that speaks of both continuity and
change. Continuity and change will also be the guideposts of
relations between the United States and Korea in the years ahead.
Where change is needed or inevitable, let us be a positive force
for change. Where continuity is our mandate, let us go forward,
resolute in our commitment to democracy and human rights.
Throughout, let our close economic and strategic relationship be
a constant.
I first came to the Asia-Pacific region during World War II
more than 45 years ago. I was a teenager -- 19 years old -- and
I flew torpedo bombers in the United States Navy. It was then,
for the first time in my life, that I truly appreciated the cost
of freedom. Believe me, I have never forgotten.
In the early years following World War II, the future of
Korea and of all Asia was very much in doubt. It was a time of
great struggle -- between Korea's hope for freedom and
3
prosperity, and the lingering legacies of war, poverty, and
colonial rule.
On a June morning in 1950, the Communist army of the north
smashed into the Republic of Korea intent on destroying your
nation. Without hesitation or delay, American forces rushed to
your aid. Together, Americans and Koreans fought side-by-side
for your right to be sovereign and independent.
I remember the devastation of your country. Your cities lay
in rubble. Your factories were in shambles. Millions of your
people wandered the streets homeless and hungry.
In 1951, in the midst of the war, General Douglas MacArthur
addressed a Joint Session of our Congress. He spoke of you,
saying, "The magnificence of the courage and fortitude of the
Korean people defies description." As he spoke those words, our
Congress interrupted him with applause for you and your people.
After the war, you overcame every imaginable hardship.
History will long record your story -- how in less than a
generation you stepped out of the shadow of tyranny and into the
light of liberty and economic opportunity.
Today Korea is a rising nation
a vibrant, dynamic
nation
a nation riding the crest of the wave of the future.
4
Never before has the pride and the progress of your nation
been more evident than last summer when this magnificent city
played host to the 24th Olympic Games. Nearly 10,000 athletes
from 160 nations were here. Another 3 billion people watched on
television. What they saw -- from the moment Sohn Kee Chung
carried the torch into your Olympic Stadium until the last embers
of the Olympic flame were extinguished at the closing ceremonies
-- was the most spectacular sports festival in the history of
mankind.
You played host to the world, and what a truly gracious host
you were. Congratulations.
Indeed, the past several years have seen the emergence of
the entire Asia-Pacific region. My trip -- beginning in Japan,
stopping in China, and finishing here in Korea -- stands as
testimony to that reality, and what it means to the future of the
world. As Mike Mansfield, the venerable former Ambassador to
Japan, has said many times in recent years, "The next century
will be the century of the Pacific." As usual, Mike Mansfield's
words are right on the mark.
Today, Asia is one of the hubs of the earth -- economically,
politically, and diplomatically. The Republic of Korea stands at
the fore. You are a world-class commercial competitor; your
commitment to democracy is demonstrated daily in this chamber;
5
and your creative diplomacy -- your Nordpolitik -- is reshaping
relations in and beyond the Asia-Pacific.
In my recent meetings with Prime Minister Takeshita of
Japan, China's Deng Xiaoping, and with you and your political
leaders, I have discussed challenging bilateral, global, and
regional issues. Our discussions have been marked at all times
by a spirit of friendship and cooperation.
I have come here today in that same spirit. I have no
desire to lecture. The United States has no desire to dominate.
Rather, I am here as the leader of a faithful friend and a
dependable ally. I am here today to ensure that we continue to
work together in all things.
Our most important mission together is to maintain the
freedom and democracy you fought so hard to win. As President, I
am committed to maintaining American forces in Korea in support
of our Mutual Defense Treaty as long as the threat from the North
continues, and for as long as the Korean people wish them to
remain. In the years ahead, we must work together to meet the
evolving security needs of the Korean Peninsula.
Peace through strength is a policy that has served the
security interests of our two nations well. However, deterrence
alone will not be enough to ensure the comprehensive security
needs of the Korean people in the years ahead. We must
6
complement deterrence with an active diplomacy in search of
dialogue with our adversaries, including North Korea.
The American people share your goal of peaceful unification
on terms acceptable to the Korean people. It is for that reason
that we actively support the initiatives of President Roh to
build bridges to the North. I will work closely with President
Roh to coordinate our efforts to draw the North toward practical
and productive dialogue, to ensure that our policies are
complementary and mutually reinforcing.
I have spoken of the need for vigilance, strength, and
diplomacy to deter aggression and preserve peace. There is
another source of strength, and it is well represented in this
Assembly. The development of democratic political institutions
is the surest means to build the national consensus that is the
foundation of true security.
Just as we must work together to achieve better security, we
must also work together to achieve greater economic prosperity.
The progress of the Korean economy is a model for developing
countries throughout the world. By unleashing the diligence and
creativity of your people, you have led Korea into an era of
unprecedented opportunity and prosperity. Korea has become an
industrial power, a major trading power, and a world-class
competitor.
7
Korea was once called the "Hermit Kingdom." Today it
deserves to be called an "Economic Kingdom." All Koreans can
take pride in what you have achieved.
Yet we also cannot overlook that your economic success has
created concerns in the management of our bilateral economic
relations. For the American people, and for the Korean people as
well, managing down our bilateral trade imbalance will be both a
challenge and an opportunity. The challenge will be to resist
the call for protectionism; the opportunity will be to expand our
economic prosperity.
We both have a lot at stake. You are our seventh largest
trading partner, larger than many of our traditional European
trading partners -- and our trade is growing. The United States
is both Korea's largest market and largest source of supplies.
We are also a leading source of the investment and technology
that you will need to fuel further economic growth and
development.
Korea's economy has benefitted greatly from the free flow of
trade. Yet today, in many countries, there is a call for greater
protectionism. I am asking you to join the United States in
rejecting these short-sighted pleas.
Protectionism is fool's gold. Protectionism may seem like
the easy way out, but it is really the quickest way down.
8
Nothing will stop the engine of Korea's economic growth faster
than new barriers to international trade.
I want for Korean consumers what American consumers already
enjoy: high-quality, low-priced goods and services from all over
the world. Protectionism will hurt the Korean consumer by
cutting competition, driving up prices, and robbing them of the
freedom of choice.
Yes, we have made progress in this area. American exports
to Korea are up. Tariffs are down, and non-tariff barriers are
down, too. But more needs to be done. And I want our two
nations to work together to do what still needs to. be done.
As one of the world's major trading powers, the Republic of
Korea sets an example for other nations who are watching what you
do. As an emerging economic leader, you must shoulder important
responsibilities to ensure the continued strength and stability
of the global marketplace. You, the representatives of the
Korean people, will face the challenge to continue to open
domestic markets, to improve living standards, and to adopt
appropriate international financial policies that reflect your
standing as a prosperous and powerful trading nation.
The United States shares similar responsibilities for the
well-being of the world economy. Our two peoples should, at all
times, bear in mind that our trading system is truly an
9
international "joint venture," and that we share a special
responsibility for its continued success.
My friends, and yes, you are my friends, I began today by
talking about my inauguration as the new President of the United
States just a few short weeks ago. The tradition of passing the
torch of leadership from one American president to another is a
time when we celebrate the strength of our democracy and a time
when we renew our commitment to the values on which it is built.
Today I am renewing my commitment to you, as the leader of
one sovereign state to the elected, legislative body of another.
I am renewing my commitment to you to work together for the good
of our peoples and of all humanity.
In the years ahead, the United States will stand with you.
We will stand with you against the forces of oppression, and for
the forces of peace, prosperity, and independence.
From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for the warmth and
hospitality you have bestowed upon me and my wife, Barbara.
Thank you. And God bless you.
####
February 16, 1989
MEMORANDUM FOR JIM CICCONI
FROM;
DENISE SCHWARZ
OFFICE OF CABINET AFFAIRS
SUBJECT;
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS; 1. THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF
KOREA 2. BLUE HOUSE LUNCH TOAST
3. AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
LOG #007665
We have reviewed the remarks and attached are the proposed
changes. I have copied Chriss Winston directly on these changes.
Attachment
Document No. 007665
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
DATE:
02/15/89
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY: 5:00 pm 02/16/89
1. THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF KOREA
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS:
2. BLUE HOUSE LUNCH TOAST
SUBJECT:
3.
AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
MCCLURE
SUNUNU
NEWMAN
SCOWCROFT
PORTER
DARMAN
STUDDERT
BATES
UNTERMEYER
ROGERS
BREEDEN
WINSTON
CARD
CICCONI
BOSKIN
DEMAREST
ROSE
FITZWATER
GRAY
HAGIN
REMARKS:
Please provide any comments/recommendations directly to Chriss
Winston (Rm. 122, x2930) by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, 02/16, with
an info copy to my office. Thanks.
RESPONSE:
James W. Cicconi
Assistant to the President
and Deputy to the Chief of Staff
Ext. 2702
1330 FEB 15 FM 3. 55
(McIntyre)
February 15, 1989
3:30 p.m.
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF KOREA
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
FEBRUARY 27, 1989
Mr. Speaker, Members of the National Assembly of the
Republic of Korea, and distinguished guests:
I'm honored by your invitation to address this body today.
I stand in your Assembly as Presidents Eisenhower, Johnson, and
Reagan have stood before me. And I reaffirm, as they did,
America's support, friendship, and respect for the Republic of
Korea and its people.
As a former member of the United States House of
Representatives, I take particular pleasure in coming to this
legislative chamber where the freely elected representatives of
Korea's own democratic success story meet to debate and to
implement the will of the Korean people.
I know that there must be times when this body, just like
the United States Congress, is full of sound and fury, noise and
acrimony. But that is the nature of democracy, and we wouldn't
have it any other way. As the great statesmen Winston Churchill
once said, "Democracy is the worst form of Government except all
и
2
This is my first major address on foreign soil since
becoming the 41st President of the United States of America. My
visit here today reflects the importance I place on the relations
between our two countries, the strength of our nations' ties, and
the promise that our relationship holds for the future of the
world.
My inauguration as President a month ago represented a
tradition in the United States that speaks of both continuity and
change. Continuity and change will also be the guideposts of
relations between the United States and Korea in the years ahead.
Where change is needed or inevitable, let us be a positive force
for change. Where continuity is our mandate, let us go forward,
resolute in our commitment to democracy and human rights.
Throughout, let our close economic and strategic relationship be
a constant.
I first came to the Asia-Pacific region during World War II
more than 45 years ago. I was a teenager -- 19 years old -- and
I flew torpedo bombers in the United States Navy. It was then,
for the first time in my life, that I truly appreciated the cost
of freedom. Believe me, I have never forgotten.
In the early years following World War II, the future of
Korea and of all Asia was very much in doubt. It was a time of
great struggle -- between Korea's hope for freedom and
3
prosperity, and the lingering legacies of war, poverty, and
colonial rule.
On a June morning in 1950, the Communist army of the north
smashed into the Republic of Korea intent on destroying your
nation. Without hesitation or delay, American forces rushed to
your aid. Together, Americans and Koreans fought side-by-side
for your right to be sovereign and independent.
I remember the devastation of your country. Your cities lay
in rubble. Your factories were in shambles. Millions of your
people wandered the streets homeless and hungry.
In 1951, in the midst of the war, General Douglas MacArthur
addressed a Joint Session of our Congress. He spoke of you,
saying, "The magnificence of the courage and fortitude of the
Korean people defies description." As he spoke those words, our
Congress interrupted him with applause for you and your people.
After the war, you overcame every imaginable hardship.
History will long record your story -- how in less than a
generation you stepped out of the shadow of tyranny and into the
light of liberty and economic opportunity.
Today Korea is a rising nation
a vibrant, dynamic
nation
a nation riding the crest of the wave of the future.
4
Never before has the pride and the progress of your nation
been more evident than last summer when this magnificent city
played host to the 24th Olympic Games. Nearly 10,000 athletes
from 160 nations were here. Another 3 billion people watched on
television. What they saw -- from the moment Sohn Kee Chung
carried the torch into your Olympic Stadium until the last embers
of the Olympic flame were extinguished at the closing ceremonies
-- was the most spectacular sports festival in the history of
mankind.
You played host to the world, and what a truly gracious host
you were. Congratulations.
Indeed, the past several years have seen the emergence of
the entire Asia-Pacific region. My trip -- beginning in Japan,
stopping in China, and finishing here in Korea -- stands as
testimony to that reality, and what it means to the future of the
world. to Mike Mansfield, the venerable former Ambassador to
Japan, has said many times in recent years, "The next century
will be the sentury of the Pacific." As usual, Mike Mansfield's
words are right on the mark.
Today, Asia is one of the hubs of the earth -- economically,
politically, and diplomatically. The Republic of Korea stands at
the fore. You are a world-class commercial competitor; your
commitment to democracy is demonstrated daily in this chamber;
5
and your creative diplomacy -- your Nordpolitik -- is reshaping
relations in and beyond the Asia-Pacific.
In my recent meetings with Prime Minister Takeshita of
Japan, China's Deng Xiaoping, and with you and your political
leaders, I have discussed challenging bilateral, global, and
regional issues. Our discussions have been marked at all times
by a spirit of friendship and cooperation.
I have come here today in that same spirit. I have no
desire to lecture. The United States has no desire to dominate.
Rather, I am here as the leader of a faithful friend and a
dependable ally. I am here today to ensure that we continue to
work together in all things.
Our most important mission together is to maintain the
freedom and democracy you fought so hard to win. As President, I
am committed to maintaining American forces in Korea in support
of our Mutual Defense Treaty as long as the threat from the North
continues, and for as long as the Korean people wish them to
remain. In the years ahead, we must work together to meet the
evolving security needs of the Korean Peninsula.
Peace through strength is a policy that has served the
security interests of our two nations well. However, deterrence
alone will not be enough to ensure the comprehensive security
needs of the Korean people in the years ahead. We must
6
complement deterrence with an active diplomacy in search of
dialogue with our adversaries, including North Korea.
The American people share your goal of peaceful unification
on terms acceptable to the Korean people. It is for that reason
that we actively support the initiatives of President Roh to
build bridges to the North. I will work closely with President
Roh to coordinate our efforts to draw the North toward practical
and productive dialogue, to ensure that our policies are
complementary and mutually reinforcing.
I have spoken of the need for vigilance, strength, and
diplomacy to deter aggression and preserve peace. There is
another source of strength, and it is well represented in this
Assembly. The development of democratic political institutions
is the surest means to build the national consensus that is the
foundation of true security.
Just as we must work together to achieve better security, we
must also work together to achieve greater economic prosperity.
inspiration
The progress of the Korean economy is an model for developing
countries throughout the world. By unleashing the diligence and
creativity of your people, you have led Korea into an era of
unprecedented opportunity and prosperity. Korea has become an
industrial power, a major trading power, and a world-class
competitor.
7
Korea was once called the "Hermit Kingdom." Today it
Miracle
deserves to be called an "Economic Kingdom." All Koreans can
take pride in what you have achieved.
Yet we also cannot overlook that your economic success has
created concerns in the management of our bilateral economic
relations. For the American people, and for the Korean people as
well, managing reducing down our bilateral trade imbalance will be both a
challenge and an opportunity. The challenge will be to resist
the call for protectionism; the opportunity will be to expand our
economic prosperity.
We both have a lot at stake. You are our seventh largest
20+ true!
trading partner, larger than many of our traditional European
trading partners -- and our trade is growing. The United States
a apani Supplies. larget
is both Korea's largest market. and largest source of supplies.
We are also a leading source of the investment and technology
that you will need to fuel further economic growth and
development.
Korea's economy has benefitted greatly from the free flow of
trade. Yet today, in many countries, there is a call for greater
protectionism. I am asking you to join the United States in
rejecting these short-sighted pleas.
Protectionism is fool's gold. Protectionism may seem like
the easy way out, but it is really the quickest way down.
8
Nothing will stop the engine of Korea's economic growth faster
than new barriers to international trade.
I want for Korean consumers what American consumers already
enjoy: high-quality, low-priced goods and services from all over
the world. Protectionism will hurt the Korean consumer by
cutting competition, driving up prices, and robbing them of the
freedom of choice.
Yes, we have made progress in this area. American exports
Korea
it's
to Korea are up. ^ Tariffs are down, and non-tariff barriers are
down, too. But more needs to be done. And I want our two
nations to work together to do what still needs to. be done.
As one of the world's major trading powers, the Republic of
Korea sets an example for other nations who are watching what you
do. As an emerging economic leader, you must shoulder important
responsibilities to ensure the continued strength and stability
of the global marketplace. You, the representatives of the
Korean people, will face the challenge to continue to open
domestic markets, to improve living standards, and to adopt
and exchange rate
appropriate international financial, policies that reflect your
standing as a prosperous and powerful trading nation.
The United States shares similar responsibilities for the
well-being of the world economy. Our two peoples should, at all
times, bear in mind that our trading system is truly an
9
international "joint venture," and that we share a special
responsibility for its continued success.
My friends, and yes, you are my friends, I began today by
talking about my inauguration as the new President of the United
States just a few short weeks ago. The tradition of passing the
torch of leadership from one American president to another is a
time when we celebrate the strength of our democracy and a time
when we renew our commitment to the values on which it is built.
Today I am renewing my commitment to you, as the leader of
one sovereign state to the elected, legislative body of another.
I am renewing my commitment to you to work together for the good
of our peoples and of all humanity.
In the years ahead, the United States will stand with you.
We will stand with you against the forces of oppression, and for
the forces of peace, prosperity, and independence.
From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for the warmth and
hospitality you have bestowed upon me and my wife, Barbara.
Thank you. And God bless you.
# # # #
Document No. 007665
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
DATE: 02/15/89
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY: 5:00 pm 02/16/89
1. THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF KOREA
2. BLUE HOUSE LUNCH TOAST
SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS:
3. AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
MCCLURE
\
SUNUNU
NEWMAN
SCOWCROFT
PORTER
DARMAN
STUDDERT
BATES
UNTERMEYER
ROGERS
BREEDEN
>
WINSTON
CARD
CICCONI
BOSKIN
DEMAREST
ROSE
FITZWATER
GRAY
HAGIN
REMARKS:
Please provide any comments/recommendations directly to Chriss
Winston (Rm. 122, x2930) by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, 02/16, with
an info copy to my office. Thanks.
RESPONSE:
Sms
James W. Cicconi
Assistant to the President
and Deputy to the Chief of Staff
Ext. 2702
1989 FEB 15 PM 3. 55
(McIntyre)
February 15, 1989
3:30 p.m.
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF KOREA
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
FEBRUARY 27, 1989
Mr. Speaker, Members of the National Assembly of the
Republic of Korea, and distinguished guests:
I'm honored by your invitation to address this body today.
I stand in your Assembly as Presidents Eisenhower, Johnson, and
Reagan have stood before me. And I reaffirm, as they did,
America's support, friendship, and respect for the Republic of
Korea and its people.
As a former member of the United States House of
Representatives, I take particular pleasure in coming to this
legislative chamber where the freely elected representatives of
Korea's own democratic success story meet to debate and to
implement the will of the Korean people.
I know that there must be times when this body, just like
the United States Congress, is full of sound and fury, noise and
acrimony. But that is the nature of democracy, and we wouldn't
have it any other way. As the great statesmen Winston Churchill
once said, "Democracy is the worst form of Government except all
those other forms that have been tried from time to time."
2
This is my first major address on foreign soil since
becoming the 41st President of the United States of America. My
visit here today reflects the importance I place on the relations
between our two countries, the strength of our nations' ties, and
the promise that our relationship holds for the future of the
world.
My inauguration as President a month ago represented a
tradition in the United States that speaks of both continuity and
change. Continuity and change will also be the guideposts of
relations between the United States and Korea in the years ahead.
Where change is needed or inevitable, let us be a positive force
for change. Where continuity is our mandate, let us go forward,
resolute in our commitment to democracy and human rights.
Throughout, let our close economic and strategic relationship be
a constant.
I first came to the Asia-Pacific region during World War II
more than 45 years ago. I was a teenager -- 19 years old -- and
I flew torpedo bombers in the United States Navy. It was then,
for the first time in my life, that I truly appreciated the cost
of freedom. Believe me, I have never forgotten.
In the early years following World War II, the future of
Korea and of all Asia was very much in doubt. It was a time of
great struggle -- between Korea's hope for freedom and
3
prosperity, and the lingering legacies of war, poverty, and
colonial rule.
On a June morning in 1950, the Communist army of the north
smashed into the Republic of Korea intent on destroying your
nation. Without hesitation or delay, American forces rushed to
your aid. Together, Americans and Koreans fought side-by-side
for your right to be sovereign and independent.
I remember the devastation of your country. Your cities lay
in rubble. Your factories were in shambles. Millions of your
people wandered the streets homeless and hungry.
In 1951, in the midst of the war, General Douglas MacArthur
addressed a Joint Session of our Congress. He spoke of you,
saying, "The magnificence of the courage and fortitude of the
Korean people defies description." As he spoke those words, our
Congress interrupted him with applause for you and your people.
After the war, you overcame every imaginable hardship.
History will long record your story -- how in less than a
generation you stepped out of the shadow of tyranny and into the
light of liberty and economic opportunity.
Today Korea is a rising nation
a vibrant, dynamic
nation
a nation riding the crest of the wave of the future.
4
Never before has the pride and the progress of your nation
been more evident than last summer when this magnificent city
played host to the 24th Olympic Games. Nearly 10,000 athletes
from 160 nations were here. Another 3 billion people watched on
television. What they saw -- from the moment Sohn Kee Chung
carried the torch into your Olympic Stadium until the last embers
of the Olympic flame were extinguished at the closing ceremonies
-- was the most spectacular sports festival in the history of
mankind.
Do we want to offend Los Angeles
You played host to the world, and what a truly gracious host
you were. Congratulations.
Is it china
Indeed, the past several years have seen the emergence of
or the PRC the
entire Asia-Pacific region. My trip -- beginning in Japan,
stopping in China, and finishing here in Korea -- stands as
testimony to that reality, and what it means to the future of the
world. As Mike Mansfield, the venerable former Ambassador to
Japan, has said many times in recent years, "The next century
will be the century of the Pacific." As usual, Mike Mansfield's
words are right on the mark.
Today, Asia is one of the hubs of the earth -- economically,
politically, and diplomatically. The Republic of Korea stands at
the fore. You are a world-class commercial competitor; your
commitment to democracy is demonstrated daily in this chamber;
5
and your creative diplomacy -- your Nordpolitik -- is reshaping
relations in and beyond the Asia-Pacific. what?
word missing
In my recent meetings with Prime Minister Takeshita of
Japan, China's Deng Xiaoping, and with you and your political
leaders, I have discussed challenging bilateral, global, and
or cliva PRC
regional issues. Our discussions have been marked at all times
by a spirit of friendship and cooperation.
I have come here today in that same spirit. I have no
desire to lecture. The United States has no desire to dominate.
Rather, I am here as the leader of a faithful friend and a
dependable ally. I am here today to ensure that we continue to
work together in all things.
Our most important mission together is to maintain the
freedom and democracy you fought so hard to win. As President, I
am committed to maintaining American forces in Korea in support
of our Mutual Defense Treaty as long as the threat from the North
continues, and for as long as the Korean people wish them to
remain. In the years ahead, we must work together to meet the
evolving security needs of the Korean Peninsula.
Peace through strength is a policy that has served the
security interests of our two nations well. However, deterrence
alone will not be enough to ensure the comprehensive security
needs of the Korean people in the years ahead. We must
6
complement deterrence with an active diplomacy in search of
dialogue with our adversaries, including North Korea.
The American people share your goal of peaceful unification
on terms acceptable to the Korean people. It is for that reason
that we actively support the initiatives of President Roh to
build bridges to the North. I will work closely with President
Roh to coordinate our efforts to draw the North toward practical
and productive dialogue, to ensure that our policies are
complementary and mutually reinforcing.
I have spoken of the need for vigilance, strength, and
diplomacy to deter aggression and preserve peace. There is
another source of strength, and it is well represented in this
Assembly. The development of democratic political institutions
is the surest means to build the national consensus that is the
foundation of true security.
Just as we must work together to achieve better security, we
must also work together to achieve greater economic prosperity.
The progress of the Korean economy is a model for developing
countries throughout the world. By unleashing the diligence and
creativity of your people, you have led Korea into an era of
unprecedented opportunity and prosperity. Korea has become an
industrial power, a major trading power, and a world-class
competitor.
used on Pg 4 -
Is there a reason we use twice ?
7
Korea was once called the "Hermit Kingdom." Today it
deserves to be called an "Economic Kingdom." All Koreans can
take pride in what you have achieved.
Yet we also cannot overlook that your economic success has
created concerns in the management of our bilateral economic
relations. For the American people, and for the Korean people as
well, managing down our bilateral trade imbalance will be both a
challenge and an opportunity. The challenge will be to resist
the call for protectionism; the opportunity will be to expand our
economic prosperity.
We both have a lot at stake. You are our seventh largest
trading partner, larger than many of our traditional European
trading partners -- and our trade is growing. The United States
is both Korea's largest market and largest source of supplies.
We are also a leading source of the investment and technology
that you will need to fuel further economic growth and
development.
Korea's economy has benefitted greatly from the free flow of
trade. Yet today, in many countries, there is a call for greater
protectionism. I am asking you to join the United States in
rejecting these short-sighted pleas.
Protectionism is fool's gold. Protectionism may seem like
the easy way out, but it is really the quickest way down.
8
Nothing will stop the engine of Korea's economic growth faster
than new barriers to international trade.
I want for Korean consumers what American consumers already
enjoy: high-quality, low-priced goods and services from all over
the world. Protectionism will hurt the Korean consumer by
cutting competition, driving up prices, and robbing them of the
freedom of choice.
Yes, we have made progress in this area. American exports
to Korea are up. Tariffs are down, and non-tariff barriers are
down, too. But more needs to be done. And I want our two
nations to work together to do what still needs to be done.
As one of the world's major trading powers, the Republic of
Korea sets an example for other nations who are watching what you
do. As an emerging economic leader, you must shoulder important
responsibilities to ensure the continued strength and stability
of the global marketplace. You, the representatives of the
Korean people, will face the challenge to continue to open
domestic markets, to improve living standards, and to adopt
appropriate international financial policies that reflect your
standing as a prosperous and powerful trading nation.
The United States shares similar responsibilities for the
well-being of the world economy. Our two peoples should, at all
times, bear in mind that our trading system is truly an
9
international "joint venture," and that we share a special
responsibility for its continued success.
My friends, and yes, you are my friends, I began today by
talking about my inauguration as the new President of the United
States just a few short weeks ago. The tradition of passing the
torch of leadership from one American president to another is a
time when we celebrate the strength of our democracy and a time
when we renew our commitment to the values on which it is built.
Today I am renewing my commitment to you, as the leader of
one sovereign state to the elected, legislative body of another.
I am renewing my commitment to you to work together for the good
of our peoples and of all humanity.
In the years ahead, the United States will stand with you.
We will stand with you against the forces of oppression, and for
the forces of peace, prosperity, and independence.
From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for the warmth and
hospitality you have bestowed upon me and my wife, Barbara.
Thank you. And God bless you.
####
Voray
1330 FEB 15 PM 3. 55
(McIntyre)
February 15, 1989
3:30 p.m.
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF KOREA
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
FEBRUARY 27, 1989
Mr. Speaker, Members of the National Assembly of the
Republic of Korea, and distinguished guests:
I'm honored by your invitation to address this body today.
I stand in your Assembly as Presidents Eisenhower, Johnson, and
Reagan have stood before me. And I reaffirm, as they did,
America's support, friendship, and respect for the Republic of
Korea and its people.
As a former member of the United States House of
Representatives, I take particular pleasure in coming to this
legislative chamber where the freely elected representatives of
Korea's own democratic success story meet to debate and to
implement the will of the Korean people.
I know that there must be times when this body, just like
the United States Congress, is full of sound and fury, noise and
acrimony. But that is the nature of democracy, and we wouldn't
2
have it any other way. As the great statesmen Winston Churchill
once said, "Democracy is the worst form of Government except all
those other forms that have been tried from time to time."
2
This is my first major address on foreign soil since
becoming the 41st President of the United States of America. My
visit here today reflects the importance I place on the relations
between our two countries, the strength of our nations' ties, and
the promise that our relationship holds for the future of the
world.
My inauguration as President a month ago represented a
tradition in the United States that speaks of both continuity and
change. Continuity and change will also be the guideposts of
relations between the United States and Korea in the years ahead.
Where change is needed or inevitable, let us be a positive force
for change. Where continuity is our mandate, let us go forward,
resolute in our commitment to democracy and human rights.
Throughout, let our close economic and strategic relationship be
a constant.
I first came to the Asia-Pacific region during World War II
more than 45 years ago. I was a teenager -- 19 years old -- and
I flew torpedo bombers in the United States Navy. It was then,
for the first time in my life, that I truly appreciated the cost
of freedom. Believe me, I have never forgotten.
In the early years following World War II, the future of
Korea and of all Asia was very much in doubt. It was a time of
great struggle -- between Korea's hope for freedom and
3
prosperity, and the lingering legacies of war, poverty, and
colonial rule.
On a June morning in 1950, the Communist army of the north
smashed into the Republic of Korea intent on destroying your
nation. Without hesitation or delay, American forces rushed to
your aid. Together, Americans and Koreans fought side-by-side
for your right to be sovereign and independent.
I remember the devastation of your country. Your cities lay
in rubble. Your factories were in shambles. Millions of your
people wandered the streets homeless and hungry.
In 1951, in the midst of the war, General Douglas MacArthur
addressed a Joint Session of our Congress. He spoke of you,
saying, "The magnificence of the courage and fortitude of the
Korean people defies description." As he spoke those words, our
Congress interrupted him with applause for you and your people.
After the war, you overcame every imaginable hardship.
History will long record your story -- how in less than a
generation you stepped out of the shadow of tyranny and into the
light of liberty and economic opportunity.
Today Korea is a rising nation
a vibrant, dynamic
nation
a nation riding the crest of the wave of the future.
4
Never before has the pride and the progress of your nation
been more evident than last summer when this magnificent city
played host to the 24th Olympic Games. Nearly 10,000 athletes
from 160 nations were here. Another 3 billion people watched on
television. What they saw -- from the moment Sohn Kee Chung
carried the torch into your Olympic Stadium until the last embers
of the Olympic flame were extinguished at the closing ceremonies
-- was the most spectacular sports festival in the history of
mankind.
You played host to the world, and what a truly gracious host
you were. Congratulations.
Indeed, the past several years have seen the emergence of
the entire Asia-Pacific region. My trip -- beginning in Japan,
stopping in China, and finishing here in Korea -- stands as
testimony to that reality, and what it means to the future of the
world. As Mike Mansfield, the venerable former Ambassador to
Japan, has said many times in recent years, "The next century
will be the century of the Pacific. " As usual, Mike Mansfield's
words are right on the mark.
Today, Asia is one of the hubs of the earth -- economically,
politically, and diplomatically. The Republic of Korea stands at
the fore. You are a world-class commercial competitor; your
commitment to democracy is demonstrated daily in this chamber;
5
and your creative diplomacy -- your Nordpolitik -- is reshaping
relations in and beyond the Asia-Pacific.
In my recent meetings with Prime Minister Takeshita of
Japan, China's Deng Xiaoping, and with you and your political
leaders, I have discussed challenging bilateral, global, and
regional issues. Our discussions have been marked at all times
by a spirit of friendship and cooperation.
I have come here today in that same spirit. I have no
desire to lecture. The United States has no desire to dominate.
Rather, I am here as the leader of a faithful friend and a
dependable ally. I am here today to ensure that we continue to
work together in all things.
Our most important mission together is to maintain the
freedom and democracy you fought so hard to win. As President, I
am committed to maintaining American forces in Korea in support
of our Mutual Defense Treaty as long as the threat from the North
continues, and for as long as the Korean people wish them to
remain. In the years ahead, we must work together to meet the
evolving security needs of the Korean Peninsula.
Peace through strength is a policy that has served the
security interests of our two nations well. However, deterrence
alone will not be enough to ensure the comprehensive security
needs of the Korean people in the years ahead. We must
6
complement deterrence with an active diplomacy in search of
dialogue with our adversaries, including North Korea.
The American people share your goal of peaceful unification
on terms acceptable to the Korean people. It is for that reason.
that we actively support the initiatives of President Roh to
build bridges to the North. I will work closely with President
Roh to coordinate our efforts to draw the North toward practical
and productive dialogue, to ensure that our policies are
complementary and mutually reinforcing.
I have spoken of the need for vigilance, strength, and
diplomacy to deter aggression and preserve peace. There is
another source of strength, and it is well represented in this
Assembly. The development of democratic political institutions
is the surest means to build the national consensus that is the
foundation of true security.
Just as we must work together to achieve better security, we
must also work together to achieve greater economic prosperity.
The progress of the Korean economy is a model for developing
countries throughout the world. By unleashing the diligence and
creativity of your people, you have led Korea into an era of
unprecedented opportunity and prosperity. Korea has become an
industrial power, a major trading power, and a world-class
competitor.
7
Korea was once called the "Hermit Kingdom." Today it
deserves to be called an "Economic Kingdom." All Koreans can
take pride in what you have achieved.
Yet we also cannot overlook that your economic success has
created concerns in the management of our bilateral economic
relations. For the American people, and for the Korean people as
well, managing down our bilateral trade imbalance will be both a
challenge and an opportunity. The challenge will be to resist
the call for protectionism; the opportunity will be to expand our
economic prosperity.
We both have a lot at stake. You are our seventh largest
trading partner, larger than many of our traditional European
trading partners -- and our trade is growing. The United States
is both Korea's largest market and largest source of supplies.
We are also a leading source of the investment and technology
that you will need to fuel further economic growth and
development.
Korea's economy has benefitted greatly from the free flow of
trade. Yet today, in many countries, there is a call for greater
protectionism. I am asking you to join the United States in
rejecting these short-sighted pleas.
to be
to
Protectionism is fool's gold. Protectionism may seem like
the easy way out, but it is really the quickest way down.
8
Nothing will stop the engine of Korea's economic growth faster
than new barriers to international trade.
I want for Korean consumers what American consumers already
enjoy: high-quality, low-priced goods and services from all over
the world. Protectionism will hurt the Korean consumer by
cutting competition, driving up prices, and robbing them of the
freedom of choice.
Yes, we have made progress in this area. American exports
to Korea are up. Tariffs are down, and non-tariff barriers are
down, too. But more needs to be done. And I want our two
nations to work together to do what still needs to. be done.
As one of the world's major trading powers, the Republic of
Korea sets an example for other nations who are watching what you
do. As an emerging economic leader, you must shoulder important
responsibilities to ensure the continued strength and stability
of the global marketplace. You, the representatives of the
Korean people, will face the challenge to continue to open
domestic markets, to improve living standards, and to adopt
appropriate international financial policies that reflect your
standing as a prosperous and powerful trading nation.
The United States shares similar responsibilities for the
well-being of the world economy. Our two peoples should, at all
times, bear in mind that our trading system is truly an
9
international "joint venture," and that we share a special
responsibility for its continued success.
My friends, and yes, you are my friends, I began today by
talking about my inauguration as the new President of the United
States just a few short weeks ago. The tradition of passing the
torch of leadership from one American president to another is a
time when we celebrate the strength of our democracy and a time
when we renew our commitment to the values on which it is built.
Today I am renewing my commitment to you, as the leader of
one sovereign state to the elected, legislative body of another.
I am renewing my commitment to you to work together for the good
of our peoples and of all humanity.
In the years ahead, the United States will stand with you.
We will stand with you against the forces of oppression, and for
the forces of peace, prosperity, and independence.
From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for the warmth and
hospitality you have bestowed upon me and my wife, Barbara.
Thank you. And God bless you.
####
Document No. 007665
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
DATE: 02/15/89
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY: 5:00 pm 02/16/89
1. THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF KOREA
2.
BLUE HOUSE LUNCH TOAST
SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS:
3.
AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
MCCLURE
P
SUNUNU
NEWMAN
SCOWCROFT
PORTER
DARMAN
STUDDERT
BATES
>
UNTERMEYER
ROGERS
BREEDEN
P
WINSTON
CARD
R
CICCONI
BOSKIN
>
DEMAREST
ROSE
FITZWATER
GRAY
HAGIN
REMARKS:
Please provide any comments/recommendations directly to Chriss
Winston (Rm. 122, x2930) by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, 02/16, with
an info copy to my office. Thanks.
RESPONSE:
No
Comment
61:0 9183160
James W. Cicconi
Assistant to the President
and Deputy to the Chief of Staff
Ext. 2702
1333 FEB 15 FM 3. 55
(McIntyre)
February 15, 1989
3:30 p.m.
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF KOREA
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
FEBRUARY 27, 1989
Mr. Speaker, Members of the National Assembly of the
Republic of Korea, and distinguished guests:
I'm honored by your invitation to address this body today.
I stand in your Assembly as Presidents Eisenhower, Johnson, and
Reagan have stood before me. And I reaffirm, as they did,
America's support, friendship, and respect for the Republic of
Korea and its people.
As a former member of the United States House of
Representatives, I take particular pleasure in coming to this
legislative chamber where the freely elected representatives of
Korea's own democratic success story meet to debate and to
implement the will of the Korean people.
I know that there must be times when this body, just like
the United States Congress, is full of sound and fury, noise and
acrimony. But that is the nature of democracy, and we wouldn't
have it any other way. As the great statesmen Winston Churchill
once said, "Democracy is corst form of Government except all
those other forms that
tried from time to time."
2
This is my first major address on foreign soil since
becoming the 41st President of the United States of America. My
visit here today reflects the importance I place on the relations
between our two countries, the strength of our nations' ties, and
the promise that our relationship holds for the future of the
world.
My inauguration as President a month ago represented a
tradition in the United States that speaks of both continuity and
change. Continuity and change will also be the guideposts of
relations between the United States and Korea in the years ahead.
Where change is needed or inevitable, let us be a positive force
for change. Where continuity is our mandate, let us go forward,
resolute in our commitment to democracy and human rights.
Throughout, let our close ec omic and strategic relationship be
a constant.
I first came to the Asia-Pacific region during World War II
more than 45 years ago. I was a teenager -- 19 years old -- and
I flew torpedo bombers in the United States Navy. It was then,
for the first time in my life, that I truly appreciated the cost
of freedom. Believe me, I have never forgotten.
In the early years following World War II, the future of
Korea and of all Asia was very much in doubt. It was a time of
great struggle -- between Korea's hope for freedom and
3
prosperity, and the lingering legacies of war, poverty, and
colonial rule.
On a June morning in 1950, the Communist army of the north
smashed into the Republic of Korea intent on destroying your
nation. Without hesitation or delay, American forces rushed to
your aid. Together, Americans and Koreans fought side-by-side
for your right to be sovereign and independent.
I remember the devastation of your country. Your cities lay
in rubble. Your factories were in shambles. Millions of your
people wandered the streets homeless and hungry.
In 1951, in the midst of the war, General Douglas MacArthur
addressed a Joint Session of our Congress. He spoke of you,
saying, "The magnificence of the courage and fortitude of the
Korean people defies description." As he spoke those words, our
Congress interrupted him with applause for you and your people.
After the war, you overcame every imaginable hardship.
History will long record your story how in less than a
generation you stepped out of the shadow of tyranny and into the
light of liberty and economic opportunity.
Today Korea is a rising nation
a vibrant, dynamic
nation
a nation riding the crest of the wave of the future.
4
Never before has the pride and the progress of your nation
been more evident than last summer when this magnificent city
played host to the 24th Olympic Games. Nearly 10,000 athletes
from 160 nations were here. Another 3 billion people watched on
television. What they saw -- from the moment Sohn Kee Chung
carried the torch into your Olympic Stadium until the last embers
of the Olympic flame were extinguished at the closing ceremonies
-- was the most spectacular sports festival in the history of
mankind.
You played host to the world, and what a truly gracious host
you were. Congratulations.
Indeed, the past several years have seen the emergence of
the entire Asia-Pacific region. My trip -- beginning in Japan,
stopping in China, and finishing here in Korea -- stands as
testimony to that reality, and what it means to the future of the
world. As Mike Mansfield, the venerable former Ambassador to
Japan, has said many times in recent years, "The next century
will be the century of the Pacific." As usual, Mike Mansfield's
words are right on the mark.
Today, Asia is one of the hubs of the earth -- economically,
politically, and diplomatically. The Republic of Korea stands at
the fore. You are a world-class commercial competitor; your
commitment to democracy is demonstrated daily in this chamber;
5
and your creative diplomacy -- your Nordpolitik -- is reshaping
relations in and beyond the Asia-Pacific.
In my recent meetings with Prime Minister Takeshita of
Japan, China's Deng Xiaoping, and with you and your political
leaders, I have discussed challenging bilateral, global, and
regional issues. Our discussions have been marked at all times
by a spirit of friendship and cooperation.
I have come here today in that same spirit. I have no
desire to lecture. The United States has no desire to dominate.
Rather, I am here as the leader of a faithful friend and a
dependable ally. I am here today to ensure that we continue to
work together in all things.
Our most important mission together is to maintain the
freedom and democracy you fought so hard to win. As President, I
am committed to maintaining American forces in Korea in support
of our Mutual Defense Treaty as long as the threat from the North
continues, and for as long as the Korean people wish them to
remain. In the years ahead, we must work together to meet the
evolving security needs of the Korean Peninsula.
Peace through strength is a policy that has served the
security interests of our two nations well. However, deterrence
alone will not be enough to ensure the comprehensive security
needs of the Korean people in the years ahead. We must
6
complement deterrence with an active diplomacy in search of
dialogue with our adversaries, including North Korea.
The American people share your goal of peaceful unification
on terms acceptable to the Korean people. It is for that reason.
that we actively support the initiatives of President Roh to
build bridges to the North. I will work closely with President
Roh to coordinate our efforts to draw the North toward practical
and productive dialogue, to ensure that our policies are
complementary and mutually reinforcing.
I have spoken of the need for vigilance, strength, and
diplomacy to deter aggression and preserve peace. There is
another source of strength, and it is well represented in this
Assembly. The development of democratic political institutions
is the surest means to build the national consensus that is the
foundation of true security.
Just as we must work together to achieve better security, we
must also work together to achieve greater economic prosperity.
The progress of the Korean economy is a model for developing
countries throughout the world. By unleashing the diligence and
creativity of your people, you have led Korea into an era of
unprecedented opportunity and prosperity. Korea has become an
industrial power, a major trading power, and a world-class
competitor.
7
Korea was once called the "Hermit Kingdom." Today it
deserves to be called an "Economic Kingdom." All Koreans can
take pride in what you have achieved.
Yet we also cannot overlook that your economic success has
created concerns in the management of our bilateral economic
relations. For the American people, and for the Korean people as
well, managing down our bilateral trade imbalance will be both a
challenge and an opportunity. The challenge will be to resist
the call for protectionism; the opportunity will be to expand our
economic prosperity.
We both have a lot at stake. You are our seventh largest
trading partner, larger than many of our traditional European
trading partners -- and our trade is growing. The United States
is both Korea's largest market and largest source of supplies.
We are also a leading source of the investment and technology
that you will need to fuel further economic growth and
development.
Korea's economy has benefitted greatly from the free flow of
trade. Yet today, in many countries, there is a call for greater
protectionism. I am asking you to join the United States in
rejecting these short-sighted pleas.
Protectionism is fool's gold. Protectionism may seem like
the easy way out, but it is really the quickest way down.
8
Nothing will stop the engine of Korea's economic growth faster
than new barriers to international trade.
I want for Korean consumers what American consumers already
enjoy: high-quality, low-priced goods and services from all over
the world. Protectionism will hurt the Korean consumer by
cutting competition, driving up prices, and robbing them of the
freedom of choice.
Yes, we have made progress in this area. American exports
to Korea are up. Tariffs are down, and non-tariff barriers are
down, too. But more needs to be done. And I want our two
nations to work together to do what still needs to be done.
As one of the world's major trading powers, the Republic of
Korea sets an example for other nations who are watching what you
do. As an emerging economic leader, you must shoulder important
responsibilities to ensure the continued strength and stability
of the global marketplace. You, the representatives of the
Korean people, will face the challenge to continue to open
domestic markets, to improve living standards, and to adopt
appropriate international financial policies that reflect your
standing as a prosperous and powerful trading nation.
The United States shares similar responsibilities for the
well-being of the world economy. Our two peoples should, at all
times, bear in mind that our trading system is truly an
9
international "joint venture," and that we share a special
responsibility for its continued success.
My friends, and yes, you are my friends, I began today by
talking about my inauguration as the new President of the United
States just a few short weeks ago. The tradition of passing the
torch of leadership from one American president to another is a
time when we celebrate the strength of our democracy and a time
when we renew our commitment to the values on which it is built.
Today I am renewing my commitment to you, as the leader of
one sovereign state to the elected, legislative body of another.
I am renewing my commitment to you to work together for the good
of our peoples and of all humanity.
In the years ahead, the United States will stand with you.
We will stand with you against the forces of oppression, and for
the forces of peace, prosperity, and independence.
From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for the warmth and
hospitality you have bestowed upon me and my wife, Barbara.
Thank you. And God bless you.
####
Boskin
1330 FEB 15 FM 3. 55
(McIntyre)
February 15, 1989
3:30 p.m.
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF KOREA
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
FEBRUARY 27, 1989
Mr. Speaker, Members of the National Assembly of the
Republic of Korea, and distinguished guests:
I'm honored by your invitation to address this body today.
I stand in your Assembly as Presidents Eisenhower, Johnson, and
Reagan have stood before me. And I reaffirm, as they did,
America's support, friendship, and respect for the Republic of
Korea and its people.
As a former member of the United States House of
Representatives, I take particular pleasure in coming to this
legislative chamber where the freely elected representatives of
Korea's own democratic success story meet to debate and to
implement the will of the Korean people.
I know that there must be times when this body, just like
the United States Congress, is full of sound and fury, noise and
acrimony. But that is the nature of democracy, and we wouldn't
have it any other way. As the great statesmen Winston Churchill
man
once said, "Democracy is the worst form of Government except all
those other forms that have been tried from time to time."
2
This is my first major address on foreign soil since
becoming the 41st President of the United States of America. My
visit here today reflects the importance I place on the relations
between our two countries, the strength of our nations' ties, and
the promise that our relationship holds for the future of the
world.
My inauguration as President a month ago represented a
tradition in the United States that speaks of both continuity and
change. Continuity and change will also be the guideposts of
relations between the United States and Korea in the years ahead.
Where change is needed or inevitable, let us be a positive force
for change. Where continuity is our mandate, let us go forward,
resolute in our commitment to democracy and human rights.
Throughout, let our close economic and strategic relationship be
a constant.
I first came to the Asia-Pacific region during World War II
more than 45 years ago. I was a teenager -- 19 years old -- and
I flew torpedo bombers in the United States Navy. It was then,
for the first time in my life, that I truly appreciated the cost
of freedom. Believe me, I have never forgotten.
In the early years following World War II, the future of
Korea and of all Asia was very much in doubt. It was a time of
great struggle -- between Korea's hope for freedom and
3
prosperity, and the lingering legacies of war, poverty, and
colonial rule.
On a June morning in 1950, the Communist army of the north
smashed into the Republic of Korea intent on destroying your
nation. Without hesitation or delay, American forces rushed to
your aid. Together, Americans and Koreans fought side-by-side
for your right to be sovereign and independent.
I remember the devastation of your country. Your cities lay
in rubble. Your factories were in shambles. Millions of your
people wandered the streets homeless and hungry.
In 1951, in the midst of the war, General Douglas MacArthur
addressed a Joint Session of our Congress. He spoke of you,
saying, "The magnificence of the courage and fortitude of the
Korean people defies description." As he spoke those words, our
Congress interrupted him with applause for you and your people.
After the war, you overcame every imaginable hardship.
History will long record your story -- how in less than a
generation you stepped out of the shadow of tyranny and into the
light of liberty and economic opportunity.
Today Korea is a rising nation
a vibrant, dynamic
nation
a nation riding the crest of the wave of the future.
4
Never before has the pride and the progress of your nation
been more evident than last summer when this magnificent city
played host to the 24th Olympic Games. Nearly 10,000 athletes
from 160 nations were here. Another 3 billion people watched on
television. What they saw -- from the moment Sohn Kee Chung
carried the torch into your Olympic Stadium until the last embers
of the Olympic flame were extinguished at the closing ceremonies
-- was the most spectacular sports festival in the history of
mankind.
You played host to the world, and what a truly gracious host
you were. Congratulations.
Indeed, the past several years have seen the emergence of
the entire Asia-Pacific region. My trip -- beginning in Japan,
stopping in China, and finishing here in Korea -- stands as
testimony to that reality, and what it means to the future of the
world. As Mike Mansfield, the venerable former Ambassador to
Japan, has said many times in recent years, "The next century
will be the century of the Pacific." As usual, Mike Mansfield's
words are right on the mark.
Today, Asia is one of the hubs of the earth -- economically,
politically, and diplomatically. The Republic of Korea stands at
the fore. You are a world-class commercial competitor; your
commitment to democracy is demonstrated daily in this chamber;
5
and your creative diplomacy -- your Nordpolitik -- is reshaping
relations in and beyond the Asia-Pacific.
In my recent meetings with Prime Minister Takeshita of
Japan, China's Deng Xiaoping, and with you and your political
leaders, I have discussed challenging bilateral, global, and
regional issues. Our discussions have been marked at all times
by a spirit of friendship and cooperation.
I have come here today in that same spirit. I have no
desire to lecture. The United States has no desire to dominate.
Rather, I am here as the leader of a faithful friend and a
dependable ally. I am here today to ensure that we continue to
work together in all things.
Our most important mission together is to maintain the
freedom and democracy you fought so hard to win. As President, I
am committed to maintaining American forces in Korea in support
of our Mutual Defense Treaty as long as the threat from the North
continues, and for as long as the Korean people wish them to
remain. In the years ahead, we must work together to meet the
evolving security needs of the Korean Peninsula.
Peace through strength is a policy that has served the
security interests of our two nations well. However, deterrence
alone will not be enough to ensure the comprehensive security
needs of the Korean people in the years ahead. We must
6
complement deterrence with an active diplomacy in search of
dialogue with our adversaries, including North Korea.
The American people share your goal of peaceful unification
on terms acceptable to the Korean people. It is for that reason
that we actively support the initiatives of President Roh to
build bridges to the North. I will work closely with President
Roh to coordinate our efforts to draw the North toward practical
and productive dialogue, to ensure that our policies are
complementary and mutually reinforcing.
I have spoken of the need for vigilance, strength, and
diplomacy to deter aggression and preserve peace. There is
another source of strength, and it is well represented in this
Assembly. The development of democratic political institutions
is the surest means to build the national consensus that is the
foundation of true security.
Just as we must work together to achieve better security, we
must also work together to achieve greater economic prosperity.
The progress of the Korean economy is a model for developing
countries throughout the world. By unleashing the diligence and
creativity of your people, you have led Korea into an era of
unprecedented opportunity and prosperity. Korea has become an
industrial power, a major trading power, and a world-class
competitor.
7
Korea was once called the "Hermit Kingdom." Today it
deserves to be called an "Economic Kingdom." All Koreans can
take pride in what you have achieved.
Yet we also cannot overlook that your economic success has
created concerns in the management of our bilateral economic
relations. For the American people, and for the Korean people as
well, managing down our bilateral trade imbalance will be both a
challenge and an opportunity. The challenge will be to resist
the call for protectionism; the opportunity will be to expand our
economic prosperity.
We both have a lot at stake. You are our seventh largest
trading partner, larger than many of our traditional European
trading partners -- and our trade is growing. The United States
is both Korea's largest market and largest source of supplies.
We are also a leading source of the investment and technology
that you will need to fuel further economic growth and
development.
Korea's economy has benefitted greatly from the free flow of
trade. Yet today, in many countries, there is a call for greater
protectionism. I am asking you to join the United States in
rejecting these short-sighted pleas.
Protectionism is fool's gold. Protectionism may seem like
the easy way out, but it is really the quickest way down.
8
Nothing will stop the engine of Korea's economic growth faster
than new barriers to international trade.
I want for Korean consumers what American consumers already
enjoy: high-quality, low-priced goods and services from all over
the world. Protectionism will hurt the Korean consumer by
cutting competition, driving up prices, and robbing them of the
freedom of choice.
Yes, we have made progress in this area. American exports
to Korea are up. Tariffs are down, and non-tariff barriers are
down, too. But more needs to be done. And I want our two
nations to work together to do what still needs to be done.
As one of the world's major trading powers, the Republic of
Korea sets an example for other nations who are watching what you
do. As an emerging economic leader, you must shoulder important
responsibilities to ensure the continued strength and stability
of the global marketplace. You, the representatives of the
Korean people, will face the challenge to continue to open
domestic markets, to improve living standards, and to adopt
appropriate international financial policies that reflect your
standing as a prosperous and powerful trading nation.
The United States shares similar responsibilities for the
well-being of the world economy. Our two peoples should, at all
times, bear in mind that our trading system is truly an
9
international "joint venture," and that we share a special
responsibility for its continued success.
My friends, and yes, you are my friends, I began today by
talking about my inauguration as the new President of the United
States just a few short weeks ago. The tradition of passing the
torch of leadership from one American president to another is a
time when we celebrate the strength of our democracy and a time
when we renew our commitment to the values on which it is built.
Today I am renewing my commitment to you, as the leader of
one sovereign state to the elected, legislative body of another.
I am renewing my commitment to you to work together for the good
of our peoples and of all humanity.
In the years ahead, the United States will stand with you.
We will stand with you against the forces of oppression, and for
the forces of peace, prosperity, and independence.
From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for the warmth and
hospitality you have bestowed upon me and my wife, Barbara.
Thank you. And God bless you.
####
Draft
#2
(McIntyre)
February 15, 1989
3:30 p.m.
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF KOREA
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
FEBRUARY 27, 1989
Mr. Speaker, Members of the National Assembly of the
Republic of Korea, and distinguished guests:
I'm honored by your invitation to address this body today.
I stand in your Assembly as Presidents Eisenhower, Johnson, and
Reagan have stood before me. And I reaffirm, as they did,
America's support, friendship, and respect for the Republic of
Korea and its people.
As a former member of the United States House of
Representatives, I take particular pleasure in coming to this
legislative chamber where the freely elected representatives of
Korea's own democratic success story meet to debate and to
implement the will of the Korean people.
I know that there must be times when this body, just like
the United States Congress, is full of sound and fury, noise and
acrimony. But that is the nature of democracy, and we wouldn't
have it any other way. As the great statesmen Winston Churchill
once said, "Democracy is the worst form of Government except all
those other forms that have been tried from time to time."
2
This is my first major address on foreign soil since
becoming the 41st President of the United States of America. My
visit here today reflects the importance I place on the relations
between our two countries, the strength of our nations' ties, and
the promise that our relationship holds for the future of the
world.
My inauguration as President a month ago represented a
tradition in the United States that speaks of both continuity and
change. Continuity and change will also be the guideposts of
relations between the United States and Korea in the years ahead.
Where change is needed or inevitable, let us be a positive force
for change. Where continuity is our mandate, let us go forward,
resolute in our commitment to democracy and human rights.
Throughout, let our close economic and strategic relationship be
a constant.
I first came to the Asia-Pacific region during World War II
more than 45 years ago. I was a teenager -- 19 years old -- and
I flew torpedo bombers in the United States Navy. It was then,
for the first time in my life, that I truly appreciated the cost
of freedom. Believe me, I have never forgotten.
In the early years following World War II, the future of
Korea and of all Asia was very much in doubt. It was a time of
great struggle -- between Korea's hope for freedom and
3
prosperity, and the lingering legacies of war, poverty, and
colonial rule.
On a June morning in 1950, the Communist army of the north
smashed into the Republic of Korea intent on destroying your
nation. Without hesitation or delay, American forces rushed to
your aid. Together, Americans and Koreans fought side-by-side
for your right to be sovereign and independent.
I remember the devastation of your country. Your cities lay
in rubble. Your factories were in shambles. Millions of your
people wandered the streets homeless and hungry.
In 1951, in the midst of the war, General Douglas MacArthur
addressed a Joint Session of our Congress. He spoke of you,
saying, "The magnificence of the courage and fortitude of the
Korean people defies description." As he spoke those words, our
Congress interrupted him with applause for you and your people.
After the war, you overcame every imaginable hardship.
History will long record your story -- how in less than a
generation you stepped out of the shadow of tyranny and into the
light of liberty and economic opportunity.
Today Korea is a rising nation
a vibrant, dynamic
nation
a nation riding the crest of the wave of the future.
4
Never before has the pride and the progress of your nation
been more evident than last summer when this magnificent city
played host to the 24th Olympic Games. Nearly 10,000 athletes
from 160 nations were here. Another 3 billion people watched on
television. What they saw -- from the moment Sohn Kee Chung
carried the torch into your Olympic Stadium until the last embers
of the Olympic flame were extinguished at the closing ceremonies
-- was the most spectacular sports festival in the history of
mankind.
You played host to the world, and what a truly gracious host
you were. Congratulations.
Indeed, the past several years have seen the emergence of
the entire Asia-Pacific region. My trip -- beginning in Japan,
stopping in China, and finishing here in Korea -- stands as
testimony to that reality, and what it means to the future of the
world. As Mike Mansfield, the venerable former Ambassador to
Japan, has said many times in recent years, "The next century
will be the century of the Pacific." As usual, Mike Mansfield's
words are right on the mark.
Today, Asia is one of the hubs of the earth -- economically,
politically, and diplomatically. The Republic of Korea stands at
the fore. You are a world-class commercial competitor; your
commitment to democracy is demonstrated daily in this chamber;
5
and your creative diplomacy -- your Nordpolitik -- is reshaping
relations in and beyond the Asia-Pacific.
In my recent meetings with Prime Minister Takeshita of
Japan, China's Deng Xiaoping, and with you and your political
leaders, I have discussed challenging bilateral, global, and
regional issues. Our discussions have been marked at all times
by a spirit of friendship and cooperation.
I have come here today in that same spirit. I have no
desire to lecture. The United States has no desire to dominate.
Rather, I am here as the leader of a faithful friend and a
dependable ally. I am here today to ensure that we continue to
work together in all things.
Our most important mission together is to maintain the
freedom and democracy you fought so hard to win. As President, I
am committed to maintaining American forces in Korea in support
of our Mutual Defense Treaty as long as the threat from the North
continues, and for as long as the Korean people wish them to
remain. In the years ahead, we must work together to meet the
evolving security needs of the Korean Peninsula.
Peace through strength is a policy that has served the
security interests of our two nations well. However, deterrence
alone will not be enough to ensure the comprehensive security
needs of the Korean people in the years ahead. We must
6
complement deterrence with an active diplomacy in search of
dialogue with our adversaries, including North Korea.
The American people share your goal of peaceful unification
on terms acceptable to the Korean people. It is for that reason
that we actively support the initiatives of President Roh to
build bridges to the North. I will work closely with President
Roh to coordinate our efforts to draw the North toward practical
and productive dialogue, to ensure that our policies are
complementary and mutually reinforcing.
I have spoken of the need for vigilance, strength, and
diplomacy to deter aggression and preserve peace. There is
another source of strength, and it is well represented in this
Assembly. The development of democratic political institutions
is the surest means to build the national consensus that is the
foundation of true security.
Just as we must work together to achieve better security, we
must also work together to achieve greater economic prosperity.
The progress of the Korean economy is a model for developing
countries throughout the world. By unleashing the diligence and
creativity of your people, you have led Korea into an era of
unprecedented opportunity and prosperity. Korea has become an
industrial power, a major trading power, and a world-class
competitor.
7
Korea was once called the "Hermit Kingdom." Today it
deserves to be called an "Economic Kingdom." All Koreans can
take pride in what you have achieved.
Yet we also cannot overlook that your economic success has
created concerns in the management of our bilateral economic
relations. For the American people, and for the Korean people as
well, managing down our bilateral trade imbalance will be both a
challenge and an opportunity. The challenge will be to resist
the call for protectionism; the opportunity will be to expand our
economic prosperity.
We both have a lot at stake. You are our seventh largest
trading partner, larger than many of our traditional European
trading partners -- and our trade is growing. The United States
is both Korea's largest market and largest source of supplies.
We are also a leading source of the investment and technology
that you will need to fuel further economic growth and
development.
Korea's economy has benefitted greatly from the free flow of
trade. Yet today, in many countries, there is a call for greater
protectionism. I am asking you to join the United States in
rejecting these short-sighted pleas.
Protectionism is fool's gold. Protectionism may seem like
the easy way out, but it is really the quickest way down.
8
Nothing will stop the engine of Korea's economic growth faster
than new barriers to international trade.
I want for Korean consumers what American consumers already
enjoy: high-quality, low-priced goods and services from all over
the world. Protectionism will hurt the Korean consumer by
cutting competition, driving up prices, and robbing them of the
freedom of choice.
Yes, we have made progress in this area. American exports
to Korea are up. Tariffs are down, and non-tariff barriers are
down, too. But more needs to be done. And I want our two
nations to work together to do what still needs to be done.
As one of the world's major trading powers, the Republic of
Korea sets an example for other nations who are watching what you
do. As an emerging economic leader, you must shoulder important
responsibilities to ensure the continued strength and stability
of the global marketplace. You, the representatives of the
Korean people, will face the challenge to continue to open
domestic markets, to improve living standards, and to adopt
appropriate international financial policies that reflect your
standing as a prosperous and powerful trading nation.
The United States shares similar responsibilities for the
well-being of the world economy. Our two peoples should, at all
times, bear in mind that our trading system is truly an
9
international "joint venture," and that we share a special
responsibility for its continued success.
My friends, and yes, you are my friends, I began today by
talking about my inauguration as the new President of the United
States just a few short weeks ago. The tradition of passing the
torch of leadership from one American president to another is a
time when we celebrate the strength of our democracy and a time
when we renew our commitment to the values on which it is built.
Today I am renewing my commitment to you, as the leader of
one sovereign state to the elected, legislative body of another.
I am renewing my commitment to you to work together for the good
of our peoples and of all humanity.
In the years ahead, the United States will stand with you.
We will stand with you against the forces of oppression, and for
the forces of peace, prosperity, and independence.
From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for the warmth and
hospitality you have bestowed upon me and my wife, Barbara.
Thank you. And God bless you.
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