President Park Geun-hye this morning met with Rep. Steve Chabot, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific of the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs and Rep. Eni Faleomavaega, the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee.
At the meeting, they exchanged views on major pending issues between the two countries, including ROK-U.S. relations, recent developments surrounding the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia and the forthcoming visit in May of President Park to the United States, as well as other issues of mutual concern.
President Park began by saying, "I am pleased to meet the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific of the U.S. House of Representatives before my visit to the United States. The Subcommittee is playing important roles in ROK-U.S. relations." The President went on to say that she was particularly grateful to Chairman Chabot for his consistent support for South Korea's North Korea policy, including by co-sponsoring a joint resolution of both houses of the U.S. Congress to condemn the missile launch by the North in 2008 and his joint proposal for the revision of the North Korean Human Rights Act in 2008.
She also extended her appreciation to Ranking Member Eni Faleomavaega for his continued interest in the issue of so-called "comfort women," who were coerced into sexual slavery by imperial Japan during World War II. He took the initiative in holding House hearings on the issue and co-sponsored a bill to adopt a comfort women resolution.
Chairman Chabot congratulated President Park on her invitation to address a joint session of the U.S. Congress during her visit to the United States. He commented that her scheduled speech is a good example of how important the U.S. Congress regards ROK-U.S. relations.
President Park said, "My upcoming visit to the United States will serve as an opportunity to show people at home and abroad that the ROK-U.S. alliance is robust at a time when the security situation on the Korean Peninsula remains in grave peril. It will also become an occasion for our two nations to share new visions for the progress of the bilateral relationship, celebrate this year's 60th anniversary of the alliance and reflect on the invaluable friendship between our two nations." The President made a high evaluation of the alliance saying, "The ROK-U.S. alliance is one of the most successful alliances in history."
In response, Rep. Chabot said that the ROK-U.S. alliance has so far successfully contributed to peace on the Korean Peninsula and Korea's economic prosperity. He went on to stress the need to continuously expand bilateral collaboration in various sectors, including through the faithful implementation of the KORUS FTA and the on-going national defense cooperation. He also gave high marks to close cooperation between the two countries in dealing with major international affairs.
Rep. Faleomavaega once again congratulated President Park on her election as the first female president in Korea. He said that the approximately 2.2 million Korean residents in the United States were playing an important role in advancing bilateral relations. Touching on the past claims that the statue of General MacArthur in Busan has to be pulled down, he said it was fortunate that the Korean Veterans Association had opposed such a move. He added that it would be necessary to make continued efforts to awaken the new generation to the importance of the ROK-U.S. alliance.
With regard to the "comfort women," Rep. Faleomavaega said that it was important for President Park to speak directly to the American people and help them understand how Koreans feel about the issue. He also stressed that it was important for North and South Korea, not China, Japan, or the United States, to take the initiative in resolving the issue on the Korean Peninsula. Rep. Faleomavaega added that he looked forward to seeing President Park maintain balance in the efforts to resolve the issue, demonstrating leadership in the style of Henry Kissinger to achieve reconciliation, if not unification, between North and South.
Rep. Chabot commented on the recent developments at the Kaesong Industrial Complex, expressing full support for Korea and the stance it has taken. President Park explained, "In order for businesses to make investments and carry out their operations, agreements must be adhered to faithfully, with a sense of assurance even in changing situations."
"But in a situation like this," she continued, "where everything could come crumbling down in a single moment, not only Korea but any other country too would not be able to continue its investments. It's an unpredictable place. Yesterday, the Korean people and the rest of the world watched together as small cars pulled out of Kaesong packed with things and still unable to take everything with them. How could this have been possible? If North Korea does not show itself a responsible member of international society, it will neither achieve economic development nor anything else. And it doesn't end there, there are numerous companies that have to make deliveries but other companies have actually given up on the market because they can't be sure that goods will be received. Operating a business is impossible in this kind of situation." With this, the President emphasized the need for the international community to continue to pressure the North to make the right choices.
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