[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 8 (Monday, February 25, 2002)]
[Page 266]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at a Dinner Hosted by President Kim in Seoul, South Korea

February 20, 2002

    Mr. President, Madam First Lady, thank you all so very much for your 
such generous hospitality. Laura and I are honored to be here.
    I'm told that in Korea, the color blue stands for elegance and 
dignity. Through your hospitality, Mr. President, these qualities are in 
abundance tonight.
    Earlier today President Kim and I traveled to the Demilitarized Zone 
and saw the line where freedom begins and ends. I was reminded there of 
the tremendous sacrifices paid by both South Koreans and Americans in 
defending that line. I met with men and women from both our nations who 
defend that line today on behalf of everybody in this room. As always, 
their enthusiasm and dedication to duty and freedom and country was 
inspiring.
    At the DMZ, President Kim and I also saw the railway and the road 
that symbolize our common hopes that families and commerce, culture and 
ideas may one day travel freely throughout the Peninsula. President Kim 
has offered the North a better way. He has offered them a vision of 
reconciliation over rivalry. He has offered them the chance to fulfill 
new hopes instead of feeding old suspicions. For the sake of all 
Koreans, I hope--and the American people hope--that the North does not 
miss this chance.
    Mr. President, by your unyielding love for liberty, you have written 
on the pages of history a story of uncommon courage and determination. 
Sustained by your strong faith, you endured hardships that most can 
hardly imagine, all for a simple idea, the idea that freedom belongs to 
every person, not just every Korean or every American but every Asian 
and every person on this planet.
    As you said in your Nobel lecture, and I quote, ``Democracy is the 
absolute value that makes for human dignity, as well as the only road to 
sustain economic development and social justice.''
    President Kim, Laura and I thank you for your friendship and your 
warm hospitality, and the world thanks you for your leadership and your 
vision. The American people thank you and the Korean people for the 
sympathy and support you have given our Nation during these past 
difficult months. And most of all, my country thanks South Korea for a 
half-century of friendship, a friendship that has brought great benefit 
to both our peoples, a friendship that has now matured into a great 
alliance for liberty.
    My toast tonight is that, may God continue to bless Korea and 
America.

Note: The President spoke at 7:11 p.m. at the Blue House. In his 
remarks, he referred to President Kim's wife, Lee Hee-ho. The transcript 
released by the Office of the Press Secretary also included the remarks 
of President Kim.