Yoon warns North Korea not to cross the line in address to U.S. Congress

Diplomacy

Published: 28 Apr. 2023, 02:42 Updated: 28 Apr. 2023, 16:18

Yoon warns North Korea not to cross the line in address to U.S. Congress

Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, front, gives an address to a joint meeting of U.S. Congress as U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, left, and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, right, look on in the House chamber at Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

President Yoon Suk Yeol urged North Korea to cease its provocations and "take the right path," warning there is a point beyond which the regime must not advance, in an address to a joint session of U.S. Congress Thursday.

Yoon also said that Korea "strongly condemns the unprovoked armed attack against Ukraine," which constitutes a "violation of international law."

The 45-minute English-language speech was on the theme of "Alliance of Freedom, Alliance in Action."

Yoon is the seventh Korean leader to give a congressional address, which focused on the 70-year-old Korea-U.S. alliance and its role in safeguarding freedom and democracy.

Korea will play the role of a "compass for freedom" together with the United States, Yoon said, to "safeguard and broaden the freedom of citizens of the world."

He highlighted that the "difference is stark" between Seoul, who chose freedom and democracy, and Pyongyang, who chose dictatorship and communism.

"There is one regime determined to pursue a wrong path," said Yoon. "That is North Korea."

Yoon quoted former U.S. President Ronald Reagan: "There is a price we will not pay. There is a point beyond which they must not advance."

Yoon stressed Reagan's words must be made "clear to North Korea," indicating a red line of sorts regarding North Korea's nuclear and missile provocations.

He vowed that his government "will respond firmly to provocations" but at the same time "keep the door open for dialogue on North Korea's denuclearization."

Referring to South Korea's invasion by the North in 1950, Yoon said this experience demonstrates how important it is for democracies to uphold solidarity, as is the case with Ukraine.

"Korea will stand in solidarity with the free world," said Yoon. "We will actively work to safeguard the freedom of the people of Ukraine and support their efforts in reconstruction."

"Today, our democracy is at risk," Yoon said. "We must work together and fight the forces of falsehood and deception that seek to destroy democracy and the rule of law."

He said that "such totalitarian forces may conceal and disguise themselves as defenders of democracy or human rights."

Yoon was on a weeklong state visit to the United States as the two countries mark the 70 years of the Korea-U.S. alliance dating back to their 1953 Mutual Defense Treaty.

In Yoon's bilateral summit with U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday, the two leaders adopted the Washington Declaration aimed at strengthening U.S. commitment to extended defense to South Korea.

In his congressional address, Yoon pointed to this agreement and stressed that along with close Seoul-Washington coordination, trilateral security cooperation with Tokyo also needs sped along to counter "increasing North Korean nuclear threats."

Yoon further called to raise global awareness on Pyongyang's dire human rights situation and highlighted that his government released a North Korean human rights report to the public for the first time last month.

He also shared his so-called "audacious initiative," his administration's plans to "significantly improve North Korea's economy and livelihood" if it stops its nuclear program and begins a "substantive denuclearization process."

Yoon highlighted that Korea announced last year its first comprehensive Indo-Pacific Strategy to foster a "free, peaceful and prosperous" Indo-Pacific based on "inclusiveness, trust and reciprocity."

Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol addresses a joint meeting of Congress in the House chamber in Washington on Thursday. [AP/YONHAP]

He also noted the global aspect of the Korea-U.S. partnership, saying this "means that the stage for the alliance is expanding."

"Korea and the U.S. have joined forces to safeguard freedom and democracy throughout the world," said Yoon, noting that the two countries have cooperated in the military and security sectors over the past 70 years and expanded their cooperation in the economic field.

"Our relationship has evolved from one of unilateral assistance to a partnership that is mutually beneficial," he added.

Yoon said that Korean companies are contributing to vitalizing the U.S. economy in areas such as electric vehicle (EV) batteries, semiconductors and cars and creating "decent, well-paying" jobs, remarks earning him a standing ovation.

He noted that Samsung's semiconductor plants in Austin, Texas, created nearly 10,000 jobs, while Hyundai's EV and battery plant in Georgia, expected to be operational by late 2024, is also expected to employ thousands of Americans and produce 300,000 EVs annually.

Yoon said that the two countries' partnership in the cutting-edge semiconductor industry will "contribute to establishing stable and resilient supply chains." They will also work closely on artificial intelligence, quantum technology and bioscience and explore "new frontiers" in outer space and cyberspace.

"Korea and the U.S. are the world's top technological powers leading innovation and creativity," Yoon said, which can "create a great synergy."

Yoon underscored that Korea is ready to play its part as a global partner of the United States.

"The alliance has now become a global alliance that safeguards freedom and peace around the world," Yoon said. "Korea will fulfill its responsibilities. It will play its part that matches its economic capacity."

As Yoon entered the chamber at around 11 a.m., he received his first standing ovation and took the time to shake hands with U.S. lawmakers as he headed to the podium.

Yoon received over 60 rounds of applauses during his speech, including 26 standing ovations.

Six Korean presidents have addressed Congress in the past — Syngman Rhee first in 1953, followed by Roh Tae-woo, Kim Young-sam, Kim Dae-jung, Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye.

Yoon is the fifth Korean leader to give his congressional speech in English.

As he highlighted Korea's cultural advances, Yoon joked at one point during his speech, "BTS beat me to the White House. But I beat them to Capitol Hill."

Later that day, Yoon attended a state lunch hosted by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Yoon also held a meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon and discussed deterrence against North Korea.

Yoon said that if North Korea attempts to use its nuclear arsenal, it will face a “decisive and overwhelming response” by the alliance and South Korean military, including U.S. nuclear capabilities.

Austin said that the U.S. commitment to the defense of South Korea “is ironclad” and “so is our extended deterrence commitment to your country which includes the full range of U.S. defense capabilities, including conventional, nuclear and missile defense capabilities.”

Yoon later visited the Pentagon's National Military Command Center (NMCC), where he was briefed on U.S. strategic surveillance and crisis response systems, becoming the first Korean president to visit the center.

Yoon also became the first foreign leader to visit the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), discussing ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries on science and technology, said the presidential office.

Late Thursday, Yoon and first lady Kim arrived in Boston for the second-leg of his U.S. trip.

On Friday, Yoon is set to visit the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University.

Yoon will become the first Korean president to give an address at Harvard Kennedy School.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]