Address by President Kim at UN Millennium Summit

The Inter-Korean Summit and Peace on the Korean Peninsula

Excellencies, Mr. and Madam Co-Chairs, Mr. Secretary-General, and distinguished guests!

It is a great privilege for me to have this opportunity to speak in this honored hall of peace.

The new millennium is beginning with a miracle on the Korean Peninsula. Warm sunshine has begun to melt down the wall of ice that has stood between the South and North during the past 55 years of Cold War division.

You must have seen some of the televised scenes of the South-North Korean Summit in June, as well as of the separated families reuniting on August 15 for the first time in all those years of national division. They were miraculous, and they were brought about not only through the efforts of South and North Korea, the principal parties, but also through the steadfast support and encouragement of the United Nations and the leaders of the world. I thank you wholeheartedly.

Furthermore, I am greatly encouraged by and deeply grateful for the decision by the Co-Chairs of our historic gathering to issue a statement in support of the South-North Joint Declaration that the inter-Korean summit produced.

Upon my inauguration two-and-a-half years ago, I embarked upon my sunshine policy in pursuit of inter-Korean peace, reconciliation and cooperation. Since then, the policy has won the support of the United Nations and all countries of the world.

In the Summit discussions, I and my North Korean counterpart resolved to work together so that there shall never be another war on the Korean Peninsula. We agreed that unification neither by force nor by absorption is acceptable, as both would only lead to war.

We agreed that while the aspiration toward unification through self-determination will continue to guide us, our efforts for now must focus on bringing lasting peace to the Korean Peninsula and promoting economic and socio-cultural exchanges and cooperation between the two sides. And the efforts are already under way in many areas.

Unification is the ultimate goal of the Korean people. However, unification must be achieved peacefully, no matter how long it takes. Unification must be a success for both sides. This was the agreement of the Sout-North Korean Summit.

Through exchanges of summit visits and continued ministerial talks, we will do all that we can to expand inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation and to make peace to last on the Korean Peninsula. Such advances on the Korean Peninsula will greatly contribute to peace in Northeast Asia and the world.

As long as we have the United Nations leading the global support for our efforts on behalf of peace with the active backing of all the leaders here, the miracle of the new millennium unfolding on the Korean Peninsula will become a great achievement for history. In the most earnest terms, I ask for your abiding attention and support.

Mr. and Madam Co-Chairs and leaders of the world,

In the 20th century, the United Nations achieved shining advances for peace and human welfare. Were it not for the United Nations, how much more would humankind have suffered from wars, calamities and infringements upon human rights. Indeed, I harbor no doubt that the establishment of the United Nations was humanity's greatest feat of the 20th century.

The 21st century, however, presents itself with even greater missions for the global body to accomplish. Numerous challenges await, such as the realization of world peace, assistance for the economic growth of the developing countries, promotion of human rights, combatting terrorism, and the preservation of the earth's environment. And the missions must be successfully accomplished.

I appeal to all of you. Let us join hands to make the 21st century the most peaceful and hopeful period in the history of humankind. Let us do so by having the countries of the world rally around the United Nations. I assure you that the Republic of Korea will render all the cooperation it can as the United Nations carries out its noble roles.

Thank you.

-Address by President Kim Dae-jung of the Republic of Korea at the United Nations Millennium Summit on September 6, 2000