[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 147 (Wednesday, October 7, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1448]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





     RECOGNIZING PARK GEUN-HYE, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE KELLY

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 7, 2015

  Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition 
of Park Geun-hye, president of the Republic of Korea, on the occasion 
of her second visit to Washington, D.C.
  This year marks the 65th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean 
War. As Korea has transformed itself in six decades from a war torn 
economy into the thirteenth largest economy in the world, as well as an 
indispensable ally and linchpin of regional peace and stability in 
Northeast Asia, it stands as one of America's greatest foreign policy 
success stories of the post-World War II era.
  Today Korea is the sixth largest trading partner of the United 
States, the fifth largest market for agricultural goods, and the third 
largest destination for U.S. foreign direct investment in the Asia-
Pacific region. Bilateral trade between our two nations reached $101.3 
billion in 2013 alone, cemented by the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement. 
Overall, American exports to Korea reached a record level of $44.5 
billion last year. Trade with Korea injects billions of dollars into 
the U.S. economy, supporting thousands of American jobs.
  Next week, Korean President Park Geun-hye will be making her second 
visit to Washington, D.C. While I regret not being here to welcome her 
in person, I want to express my heartfelt welcome and convey my best 
wishes for her every success.
  I know that President Park's agenda for her visit will be important 
and robust. There are many challenges that confront us in the region, 
as shown by the recent incident along the Demilitarized Zone in which 
two South Korean soldiers were maimed by land mines laid by the North. 
Yet we shall remain resolute in countering North Korean provocations, 
and our iron-clad alliance will only be strengthened by President 
Park's visit.
  In addition, I look forward to hearing about expanded U.S.-Korea 
cooperation in other areas including energy, space, health and 
cybersecurity.
  Again, I offer my best wishes to President Park on a productive and 
successful visit and I ask my colleagues to join me with their own 
expressions of friendship and support.

                          ____________________