[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 85 (Thursday, June 29, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1145-E1146]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 THE HISTORIC SUMMIT OF THE TWO KOREAS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 28, 2000

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, today I congratulate South Korean President 
Kim Dae-jung in the aftermath of the historic summit. This is an 
historic moment and holds a glimmer of promise for the Korean people 
and for peace and stability in Northeast Asia. This is a watershed 
event in the history of Korea and will hopefully lead to a significant 
reduction in tensions on the peninsula.
  According to media coverage, the summit has already produced 
potentially significant results. The two leaders reportedly have 
reached an understanding in the following four areas:
  Social and economic cooperation, including South Korean investment in 
North Korea;

[[Page E1146]]

  The easing tensions between the two Koreas;
  Steps toward the reunification of families; and
  The eventual reunification of the peninsula.
  I look forward, as we all should, to viewing the details that 
accompany these understandings with real hope that the two Koreas are 
on a path toward true and lasting peace. While this summit is only a 
first step, I am pleased and encouraged by its apparent success. I urge 
the leaders of North and South Korea to remain committed to this 
historic process that they have initiated.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, let me close by quoting from President Kim's 
airport speech in Seoul. Before he boarded the plane for Pyongyang, he 
said:

       I want to embark on the trip with a heart burning with love 
     for our people and a calm attitude so that I can look 
     straight at reality. I hope that it will be a turning point 
     in efforts to remove threats to war and terminate the Cold 
     War . . . so that 70 million Korean people in the north and 
     south can live in peace.

  Mr. Speaker, we hope that President Kim is correct and I invite my 
colleagues to join in wishing him success in this important endeavor.

                          ____________________