IFANS Conference of Global Affairs, December 11, 2017 

KNDA

 


H. E. Foreign Minister Kang,
Former Prime Minister Rudd,
Former Secretary Powell,
Distinguished Guests and Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to express my warmest welcome
to all of you gathered here
to participate in the
IFANS Conference of Global Affairs.

□ Purpose of this Conference

Two minutes and thirty seconds!
This is the time left
until midnight on the Doomsday Clock.
After the end of the Cold War,
the Clock was comfortably set
at seventeen minutes before midnight.
One of the reasons
that the time left on the Clock has been shortened
is North Korea's nuclear weapon development.

Is there any possibility left for us
to achieve denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula?
If so, how?

These are the questions
the KNDA has convened this conference
to find the answers to.

□ The Moon Jae-in Administration's Perception of the North Korean Nuclear Issue and Its Policy Tasks

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Since President Moon Jae-in took office in May this year,
his government has pushed for
a policy of 'Strong Security' :
maintaining strong defense posture
based on ROK-US Alliance,
while
substantially strengthening national defense capabilities.

Meanwhile,
his administration has continued its efforts
to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue
in a peaceful manner.

In order to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue,
the international community should broaden its support
for the principle that
North Korea's nuclear development
must not be tolerated,
and putting more effective pressure on North Korea
to abandon its nuclear program.

The great powers including U.S., China, and Russia,
must make it clear that
their top priority is to maintain the non-proliferation regime,
than competing for political influence.

At the same time,
we have to double up our efforts
to come up with new and creative ideas
to bring North Korea back to denuclearization dialogue.

While there is talks of military options,
the first thing we should do
is to exhaust all diplomatic efforts.
It is Korean government's position
that now is not the time to discuss military options.
I also believe that
the diplomatic efforts have not yet been exhausted.

It is quite possible
that the acute tensions on the Peninsula
might rather create an opportunity
for a 'diplomatic solution'.

The key is international cooperation.
Countries closely related to the issue are showing
differences in how to approach this issue.

Korea, U.S., and Japan are emphasizing
the sincere changes of North Korea's behaviors
and complete denuclearization.
China and Russia
are putting forward a “freeze-for-freeze” formula.

The international community must form a unified front.
Diplomatic wisdom is ever more needed.

It is my sincere hope
that, for the next two days,
we engage in earnest discussions,
combine conventional wisdom and new ideas,
and find creative solutions.

□ Conclusion

The Doomsday Clock
is calling on wise government officials
to act immediately
and wise citizens
to step forward and lead the way.

Although the situation on the Korean Peninsula is grave,
we cannot give up,
nor should we give up.

I hope that through this conference,
government officials, civilians, and scholars
gather wisdom to overcome the current crisis
and move one step closer to a nuclear-free Korean peninsula.

Lastly,
I would like to express my sincere appreciation
to the Nautilus Institute, Open Society Foundations,
Asia-Pacific Leadership Network, and Ploughshares Fund
for co-hosting and supporting this conference.

I would also like to thank all those
who, even though I do not name here,
have helped so much
to make this event a success.

Thank you.
/The End/