[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 75 (Thursday, June 15, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1029]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             KOREAN SUMMITT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. TONY P. HALL

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 15, 2000

  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise to mark the historic occasion 
of the summit between President Kim Dae Jung of the Republic of Korea, 
and Chairman Kim Jong II of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
  Much has been written about this unprecedented meeting between the 
leaders of the two Koreas; what has happened has encouraged not only 
Korean people, but those of us who are concerned about human rights and 
humanitarian matters as well. And I hope the course these leaders chart 
in the months ahead will be a model for other former adversaries to 
follow.
  A reconciliation like the one that has now begun in Pyongyang holds 
great promise for expanding freedom and prosperity for Korean people on 
both sides of their border. That is something that Koreans have longed 
for; it is also something that many Americans are eager to see--
especially the hundreds of thousands of Korean-Americans who have 
enriched the communities of our Nation, and the tens of thousands of 
active-duty military men and women, and their families.
  I first met President Kim when he was living in exile in the United 
States. Together with many of our colleagues and former colleagues, I 
tried to help him with the work he was doing to promote human rights 
for his people. While I have not met Chairman Kim, I have worked with 
his people on the humanitarian projects that have been an important 
focus for the DPRK in recent years. So I have a special appreciation 
for Koreans' and Korean-Americans' sense that this moment is a moving 
one.
  Still, I don't think any outsider can understand how Korean people 
feel this week. It's hard to imagine how much those in the north and 
the south have suffered--from food shortages in the north, human-rights 
concerns in the south, and for both the pain of being tom from their 
families and their countrymen.
  I hope that President Kim will be generous in providing the tangible 
necessities-- food, fertilizer, medicines--that will help so many 
people in the north. I hope that Chairman Kim will continue to 
demonstrate courage and confidence in helping separated families 
reunite. As an American, I also hope that Chairman Kim will take the 
military steps needed to reassure Koreans living in the south, and U.S. 
troops stationed along the border, that the years ahead will be 
peaceful ones.
  As important as the specific steps that have come out of this summit 
are, though, the most important long-term result will be this first 
step toward healing this divided nation.
  Mr. Speaker, the United States has an important role to play in 
supporting this extraordinary peace initiative. I strongly believe we 
should lift economic sanctions against North Korea, as President 
Clinton promised to do nine months ago. I think we should accept 
Koreans'leadership in the decisions we make together as long-time 
allies. And I hope the United States will continue to respond 
generously to the United Nations' relief efforts, and that we will 
expand our relationship with North Korea's people in other ways.
  I have visited many places where people are hurting. One thing I have 
learned is that--no matter where they live--people who survive terrible 
hardships have one thing in common: they remember who helped them 
through their difficulties, and they cannot forget who found excuses to 
let their friends and families die.
  I have been especially proud of our country in refusing to let the 
political differences we have with North Korea prevent us from 
upholding our humanitarian tradition of responding generously to the 
people in need there. Now, with this summit, Koreans in the south have 
demonstrated to their brothers that they are not going to stand by and 
let them suffer. I hope the past three days will create the goodwill 
the leaders of these nations need to improve the lives of their people 
over time--and to ease the serious suffering of Koreans in the north 
immediately.
  Both North Korea and South Korea have made tremendous progress in a 
very short time. It is easy to forget the economic strides South Korea 
has made in the past 30 years, and the diplomatic achievements North 
Korea has made as it re-orients its economy away from its longstanding 
alliances and toward a future that is marked by better relations with 
other nations.
  The work ahead will not be easy, but Koreans I know are some of the 
toughest, hardest-working people I have ever met. I am confident that, 
if they set themselves to this work, they will accomplish it. And I 
hope that our country will contribute to their success.

                          ____________________