[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 64 (Wednesday, May 8, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H2487-H2490]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1022
   JOINT MEETING TO HEAR AN ADDRESS BY HER EXCELLENCY PARK GEUN-HYE, 
                   PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

  During the recess, the House was called to order by the Speaker at 10 
o'clock and 22 minutes a.m.
  The Deputy Sergeant at Arms, Mrs. Kerri Hanley, announced the Vice 
President and Members of the U.S. Senate who entered the Hall of the 
House of Representatives, the Vice President taking the chair at the 
right of the Speaker, and the Members of the Senate the seats reserved 
for them.
  The SPEAKER. The joint meeting will come to order.
  The Chair appoints as members of the committee on the part of the 
House to escort Her Excellency Park Geun-hye, President of the Republic 
of Korea, into the Chamber:
  The gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor);
  The gentleman from California (Mr. McCarthy);
  The gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden);
  The gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lankford);
  The gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions);
  The gentleman from California (Mr. Royce);
  The gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Camp);
  The gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon);
  The gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen);
  The gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady);

[[Page H2488]]

  The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot);
  The gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger);
  The gentleman from Washington (Mr. Reichert);
  The gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers);
  The gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe);
  The gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi);
  The gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer);
  The gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn);
  The gentleman from California (Mr. Becerra);
  The gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley);
  The gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel);
  The gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel);
  The gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran);
  The gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell);
  The gentleman from California (Mr. Honda);
  The gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Van Hollen);
  The gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui);
  The gentlewoman from California (Ms. Chu);
  The gentlewoman from Alabama (Ms. Sewell); and
  The gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Meng).
  The VICE PRESIDENT. The President of the Senate, at the direction of 
that body, appoints the following Senators as members of the committee 
on the part of the Senate to escort Her Excellency Park Geun-hye, 
President of the Republic of Korea, into the House Chamber:
  The Senator from Nevada (Mr. Reid);
  The Senator from Alaska (Mr. Begich);
  The Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez);
  The Senator from Maryland (Mr. Cardin);
  The Senator from Kentucky (Mr. McConnell);
  The Senator from Texas (Mr. Cornyn);
  The Senator from Wyoming (Mr. Barrasso);
  The Senator from Alaska (Ms. Murkowski); and
  The Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Corker).
  The Deputy Sergeant at Arms announced the Acting Dean of the 
Diplomatic Corps, His Excellency Hersey Kyota, the Ambassador of the 
Republic of Palau.
  The Acting Dean of the Diplomatic Corps entered the Hall of the House 
of Representatives and took the seat reserved for him.
  The Deputy Sergeant at Arms announced the Cabinet of the President of 
the United States.
  The Members of the Cabinet of the President of the United States 
entered the Hall of the House of Representatives and took the seats 
reserved for them in front of the Speaker's rostrum.
  At 10 o'clock and 36 minutes a.m., the Sergeant at Arms, the 
Honorable Paul D. Irving, announced Her Excellency Park Geun-hye, 
President of the Republic of Korea.
  The President of the Republic of Korea, escorted by the committee of 
Senators and Representatives, entered the Hall of the House of 
Representatives and stood at the Clerk's desk.
  (Applause, the Members rising.)
  The SPEAKER. Members of Congress, I have the high privilege and the 
distinct honor of presenting to you Her Excellency Park Geun-hye, 
President of the Republic of Korea.
  (Applause, the Members rising.)
  President PARK. Speaker Boehner, Vice President Biden, distinguished 
Members of the House and the Senate, ladies and gentlemen,
  I am privileged to stand in this Chamber--this hallowed ground of 
freedom and democracy--to speak about our friendship and our future 
together.
  After I arrived in Washington the day before yesterday, I went to the 
Korean War Memorial near the banks of the Potomac. I read the words 
etched in granite: ``Our nation honors her sons and daughters, who 
answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they 
never met.'' Time and again, I am moved when I read those familiar 
words.
  Let me express--on behalf of the people of the Republic of Korea--our 
profound gratitude to America's veterans. Their blood, sweat and tears 
helped safeguard freedom and democracy.
  I also offer my heartfelt appreciation to four men in particular. 
They served in that war and now serve in this Chamber. Their names are 
Congressmen John Conyers, Charles Rangel, Sam Johnson and Howard Coble.
  Gentlemen, my country thanks you.
  When the guns fell silent in the summer of 1953, Koreans were 
surviving on $67 a year. Six decades later, Korea is one of the top 
five car producers and the eighth-largest trading nation.
  Some call this the ``Miracle on the Han River.''
  But for those of us in Korea, it was anything but a miracle. And it 
wasn't just built from within. Koreans worked tirelessly in the mines 
of Germany, in the jungles of Vietnam, and in the deserts of the Middle 
East.
  These are the people--the proud Korean people--I am so honored to 
serve as President.
  They are the ones that made Korea what it is today.
  Together, we will write a sequel to that story: ``A Second Miracle on 
the Han River.''
  This time, it will be written with a revived economy, with a people 
that are happy, with a flourishing culture, and on a pathway to a 
reunified Peninsula.
  These are the four tenets that guide my government. We also know that 
we didn't come this far on our own.
  Along our journey we have been aided by great friends, and among them 
the United States is second to none. America, I thank you for your 
friendship.
  If the past is anything to go by, our new journey will also be filled 
with excitement.
  This year, we honor the 60th anniversary of our alliance. And today, 
I would like to acknowledge one iconic family that captures those 60 
years.
  It is the family of Lieutenant Colonel David Morgan.
  Colonel Morgan's grandfather, the late Warren Morgan, fought in the 
Korean War. The senior Morgan was a commander in the U.S. Naval 
Reserve.
  His father, John Morgan, also served in the Korean War. He was a 
battery commander of the 213th Field Artillery.
  Colonel Morgan himself has served two tours in Korea in 1992 and 
2005.
  The Morgan family is a living testimony to our 60 years together--
three generations of Americans helping to safeguard Korea. That family 
is here with us today.
  As President of a grateful nation, I salute the Morgan family and the 
commitment and friendship of the American people.
  Looking forward, our precious alliance is setting its sights on a 
better world--a brighter future. Bound by trust, guided by shared 
values, we are cooperating across and beyond our own boundaries.
  Korea has stood by the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan. 
Together, we supported peace-building and reconstruction in those 
nations.
  Following the Washington Conference in 2010, Seoul hosted the second 
Nuclear Security Summit last year. There we reaffirmed our commitment 
to the vision of ``a world without nuclear weapons.''
  A world without nuclear weapons--President Obama's vision--must start 
on the Korean Peninsula. For the Peninsula is home to the only divided 
nation-state and directly faces the threat of nuclear weapons. It is an 
ideal test bed for a future free of nuclear arms. If we can pull it off 
on the Korean Peninsula, then we can pull it off anywhere else.
  Korea has been pursuing the peaceful use of nuclear energy. It is 
also firmly committed to the principle of nonproliferation. Korea and 
the United States are partnering to build reactors in third countries. 
In this regard, we need a modernized, mutually beneficial successor to 
our existing civil nuclear agreement. Such an accord will bring huge 
benefits to related industries in both our countries.
  Our partnership also extends to development assistance.
  The United States and Korea send the largest numbers of aid 
volunteers abroad. We will work side by side to help lower-income 
countries. In 2011, our aid agencies signed a document that facilitates 
these efforts. And Korea's aid agency will soon be signing another with 
the U.S. Peace Corps.

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  In March of last year, the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement went into 
effect. The agreement adds an economic pillar to our alliance. It has 
moved us closer to a comprehensive strategic alliance.
  We can do even more. If the bill on visa quotas for Korean 
professionals is passed in this Congress, both our economies will 
benefit, for it would help create many more jobs. It would show our 
people what the FTA can do for them.
  I ask Congress for its understanding--for its support.
  Our FTA also connects East Asia and North America and provides a key 
platform for building a common Asia-Pacific market. The agreement also 
helps underpin Washington's rebalancing toward the region.
  Collectively, these developments paint a forward-leaning alliance. 
They point to a 21st century partnership that is both comprehensive and 
strategic.
  Ladies and gentlemen,
  That is our present, the foundation on which we stand. I now wish to 
share my vision of ``our future together''--a future that we will build 
together as partners.
  Following our meeting yesterday, President Obama and I adopted a 
joint declaration. Building on the extraordinary accomplishments of the 
last 60 years, we determined to embark on another shared journey toward 
peace on the Korean Peninsula, toward cooperation in Northeast Asia, 
and, finally, toward prosperity around the world.
  It is my hope that as we make this journey, our partnership will be 
guided by a three-part vision.
  The first is to lay the groundwork for enduring peace on the Korean 
Peninsula and over time for reunification.
  That future, I know, feels distant today.
  North Korea continues to issue threats and provocations firing long-
range missiles, staging nuclear tests that undermine peace on the 
Peninsula and far beyond it.
  The Korean Government is reacting resolutely but calmly. We are 
maintaining the highest level of readiness. We are strengthening our 
cooperation with the U.S. and other international partners.
  Korea's economy and financial markets remain stable. Companies--both 
domestic and foreign--see this, and are expanding their investments.
  Korea's economic fundamentals are strong. Its government is equal to 
the task. And it is backed by the might of our alliance. So long as 
this continues, you may rest assured: no North Korean provocation can 
succeed.
  I will remain steadfast in pushing forward a process of trust-
building on the Korean Peninsula. I am confident that trust is the path 
to peace, the path to a Korea that is whole again.
  The Republic of Korea will never accept a nuclear-armed North Korea. 
Pyongyang's provocations will be met decisively.
  At the same time, I will not link humanitarian aid provided to the 
North Korean people, such as infants and young children, to the 
political situation.
  And with the trust that gradually builds up, through exchange, 
through cooperation, we will cement the grounds for durable peace and, 
eventually, peaceful reunification.
  But as we say in Korea, it takes two hands to clap. Trust is not 
something that can be imposed on another.
  The pattern is all too familiar--and badly misguided. North Korea 
provokes a crisis. The international community imposes a certain period 
of sanctions. Later, it tries to patch things up by offering 
concessions and rewards. Meanwhile, Pyongyang uses that time to advance 
its nuclear capabilities. And uncertainty prevails.
  It is time to put an end to this vicious cycle.
  Pyongyang is pursuing two goals at once--a nuclear arsenal and 
economic development. We know these are incompatible. You cannot have 
your cake and eat it, too.
  The leadership in Pyongyang must make no mistake. Security does not 
come from nuclear weapons. Security comes when the lives of its people 
are improved. It comes when people are free to pursue their happiness.
  North Korea must make the right choice. It must walk the path to 
becoming a responsible member in the community of nations.
  In order to induce North Korea to make that choice, the international 
community must speak with one voice. Its message must be clear and 
consistent.
  Only then will we see real progress in inter-Korean relations. Only 
then will lasting peace be brought to the Korean Peninsula and 
Northeast Asia.
  Sixty years ago, a stretch of earth bisecting the Korean Peninsula 
was cleared of arms. Today, that demilitarized zone drawn to prevent 
armed collision is the most militarized place on the planet. And the 
standoff around the DMZ has the potential to endanger global peace.
  We must defuse that danger. Not just South and North Korea. The world 
must also get involved. The demilitarized zone must live up to its 
name, a zone that strengthens the peace, not undermines it.
  It is with this vision in mind that I hope to work toward an 
international park inside the DMZ. It will be a park that sends a 
message of peace to all of humanity. This could be pursued in parallel 
with my trust-building process. There, I believe we can start to grow 
peace--to grow trust. It would be a zone of peace, bringing together 
not just Koreans separated by a military line, but also the citizens of 
the world. I call on America and the global community to join us in 
seeking the promise of a new day.
  Honorable Members of Congress,
  The second leg of our journey extends beyond the Korean Peninsula to 
all of Northeast Asia, where we must build a mechanism of peace and 
cooperation.
  Sadly, today, the nations of this region fail to fulfill all that we 
can achieve collectively. That potential is tremendous.
  The region's economies are gaining ever greater clout and becoming 
more and more interlinked. Yet differences stemming from history are 
widening.
  It has been said that those who are blind to the past cannot see the 
future. This is obviously a problem for the here and now. But the 
larger issue is about tomorrow. For where there is failure to 
acknowledge honestly what happened yesterday, there can be no tomorrow.
  Asia suffers from what I call ``Asia's paradox'': the disconnect 
between growing economic interdependence, on the one hand, and backward 
political, security cooperation on the other. How we manage this 
paradox--this will determine the shape of a new order in Asia.
  Together, we must meet these challenges. And so I propose an 
initiative for peace and cooperation in Northeast Asia.
  We cannot afford to put off a multilateral dialogue process in 
Northeast Asia. Together, the United States and other Northeast Asian 
partners could start with softer issues. These include environmental 
issues and disaster relief. They include nuclear safety and 
counterterrorism. Trust will be built through this process. And that 
trust will propel us to expand the horizons of our cooperation.
  The initiative will serve the cause of peace and development in the 
region, but it will be firmly rooted in the Korea-U.S. alliance. In 
this sense, it could reinforce President Obama's strategy of 
rebalancing towards the Asia-Pacific.
  Of course, North Korea could also be invited to join. If we start 
where our interests overlap, then later on it will be easier to find 
common ground on the larger challenges, easier to find solutions to our 
mutual benefit.
  I firmly believe that Korea and the United States will work hand in 
hand as we shape an emerging process for cooperation in the region.
  The third and final leg of our journey extends even farther beyond 
the Peninsula--beyond Northeast Asia to the rest of the world.
  It is to contribute to happiness--the happiness of Koreans on both 
halves of the Peninsula, the happiness of all humanity. This is a 
vision I also advanced at my inauguration.
  The ``pursuit of happiness'' is enshrined in the American Declaration 
of Independence. It also occupies a special place in the Korean 
Constitution. I have long believed that our alliance should aim far, 
that it should ultimately seek a happier world.
  Guided by this spirit, we stood side by side in the frontiers of 
peace and freedom. Infused by this spirit, we are expanding cooperation 
on global issues,

[[Page H2490]]

issues like counterterrorism, nuclear nonproliferation and the global 
financial crisis.
  Our efforts will not stop there. Together, we will help spread the 
universal values of freedom, human rights, and the rule of law. We will 
march together to take on global challenges--from fighting poverty to 
tackling climate change and other environmental issues.
  Members of the House and the Senate,
  Our journey since the Korean war has been led by a specific mission 
to respond to threats and provocations from the north and to defend 
freedom and peace on the Korean Peninsula.
  Today, our alliance is called upon to go beyond that--beyond just the 
defense of freedom and peace. We are called upon to step forward on a 
new journey--a journey toward a Korea that is at peace, that is happy, 
and that is made whole.
  Our economic partnership must also aim higher and reach further into 
the future.
  President Obama has outlined the Startup America Initiative. 
Together, with my strategy for a creative economy, we can advance 
toward a common goal--to help channel the innovative ideas, the 
passion, and the drive of our youths towards a brighter future.
  Koreans and Americans are partnering in new ways, whether at world 
tours of Korean pop stars for Hollywood films or at reconstruction 
sites in the Middle East.
  Together, we can envision a future that is richer, that is safer, and 
that is happier.
  Our chorus of freedom and peace, of future and hope, has not ceased 
to resonate over the last 60 years and will not cease to go on.
  Thank you very much.
  (Applause, the Members rising.)
  At 11 o'clock and 15 minutes a.m., Her Excellency Park Geun-hye, 
President of the Republic of Korea, accompanied by the committee of 
escort, retired from the Hall of the House of Representatives.
  The Deputy Sergeant at Arms escorted the invited guests from the 
Chamber in the following order:
  The Members of the President's Cabinet;
  The Acting Dean of the Diplomatic Corps.

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