Ambassador Thomas C. Hubbard
Knight
Field
September 30, 2003
Thank you very much, General LaPorte. It is my pleasure to be here with you today to commemorate this fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the ROK-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty and to join American and Korean veterans as we reflect on our shared history, honor our Veterans¢®¯ service, and, importantly, look to the future of the U.S.-ROK alliance.
It¢®¯s an honor to stand before our two nations¢®¯ heroes today. When the independence of the Republic of Korea was threatened with the Communist invasion of the South in 1950, the United States was not prepared for war and the ROK was poorly armed. But American leaders decided that they could not stand by while North Korea attempted to impose its will on the South. During the Korean War, the courage, patriotism, and sacrifice of Korean, American, and other United Nations military personnel preserved the Republic of Korea's independence. The horrific conflict resulted in the deaths of 34,000 young Americans and 138,000 South Korean soldiers. Civilian deaths were many times higher and, in total, millions of people on both sides of the battle lines died. At the end of the war, much of the Peninsula lay in ruins.
Nevertheless hope remained alive in those troubled times. Because of the courage and dedication our two countries¢®¯ servicemen demonstrated during the war, South Korea remained a free country. Due to the commitment of our countries to the defense of freedom, the people of South Korea have had 50 years to build a dynamic democracy and a thriving economy. For that I can assure you that our veterans¢®¯ legacy is not forgotten.
The Mutual Defense Treaty and strength of our partnership have successfully deterred North Korea and guaranteed the stability necessary for Korea to rebuild. South Korea and the United States have worked together to make this possible and the alliance has symbolized our two countries¢®¯ shared dedication to peace, freedom and democracy.
Today, Koreans are rightfully proud of what they have built. They look at their economic and military strength, and draw the inevitable conclusion - the South has effectively won the race on the Peninsula.
Korea invited numerous Korean War veterans to visit Korea during the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Armistice. This was an extraordinary time for both the veterans and for all of us who were able to meet them. Many veterans voiced amazement at the transformation of Korea in the fifty years since the war ended. When these veterans left the Peninsula at the end of the Korean War, South Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world. It had been devastated by the war, and democratic government was still only an aspiration.
Today, we all know well the story of Korea's economic and political miracles: the long struggles, the history of courage and determination that have made this one of the world's more prosperous countries and a true, functioning democracy that is the envy of this region and the world. The veterans I met were all proud that their contributions allowed an impressive nation to emerge, a flourishing, prosperous, and free South Korea.
The veterans were very warmly received. After 50 years, Koreans are still thankful for their contributions and the earnest feelings expressed for those who fought in the Korean War demonstrated the unity of the United States and South Korea. This awareness was reflected in a recent poll that showed that 90 percent of South Koreans consider the US-ROK alliance important while nearly the same number view USFK significant in maintaining South Korea¢®¯s security.
In this year of fiftieth anniversaries we have many opportunities to reflect on our countries¢®¯ shared history. But we should not only focus on the past. Our relationship rests as much on the future as on the past. Our future involves defending what we fought together for. It also rests on working together to reap the benefits of freedom, democracy, and open economies.
Korea¢®¯s growing involvement in world affairs demonstrates its status as a leading democracy. Korean forces have been deployed internationally to keep the peace in East Timor, and more recently to assist with reconstruction in Afghanistan. Korean troops are working to help build a new and free Iraq. We are proud that Korea -- whose own history represents a victory of democracy over aggression and tyranny ? is part of the coalition giving the Iraqi people that chance. We warmly welcome Korean troops as our brothers in arms as we step up to today¢®¯s security challenges -- the challenges of fighting terrorism and building a better world for all of us.
These initiatives illustrate how our alliance is based on much more than experiences in the Korean War, the defense of South Korea, or reconstruction actions. Our two nations¢®¯ share a wide range of important values and principles and, by its actions, Korea¢®¯s government has made clear that it is willing to defend those values and principles.
As we look to the future, it is appropriate that we explore how the alliance should evolve to best meet new challenges and opportunities. Today, we face different sorts of threats, requiring new approaches. Modernization of our forces has also opened up new possibilities to draw on our increased mobility, firepower, and sophistication.
Under the Future of the Alliance initiative, launched by our two defense ministers last December, we are working together to adjust and update our security relationship to meet the changed circumstances of the 21st century and to reflect the increased sophistication and capabilities of our respective militaries.
Our efforts to modernize the alliance will be guided by two principal considerations. First, deterrence remains a key objective of our common defense posture. As President Bush reaffirmed during his summit with President Roh, the U.S. remains committed to a robust forward presence on the Peninsula and in the Asia-Pacific region. Second, the changes we make should help to sustain a strong alliance over the long run, by reducing unnecessary burdens on both sides and ensuring that the alliance will remain relevant far into the future.
Unfortunately, one thing that has survived in the last 50 years is the threat from North Korea. The Republic of Korea, the United States, and the international community continue to face a troubling challenge from North Korea, which has embarked on the dangerous path of developing nuclear weapons and delivery systems. The DPRK has violated its commitments to the international community and the international community must stand together to insist on more responsible behavior.
Even as we pursue multilateral diplomacy to resolve peacefully the North Korea nuclear problem, however, our two countries must continue to maintain our strong combined deterrent against the North Korea threat. Indeed, the importance of a strong alliance and credible deterrent capability cannot be overstated. Without that, our search for a peaceful resolution through multilateral diplomacy will be easily undermined.
Thus as we honor each other and celebrate with pride this special anniversary of the Mutual Defense Treaty and the U.S.-South Korea alliance, I am optimistic about the future. Our two peoples are bound together by shared values, principles, and tasks. The ties that link us are strong, and they will continue to provide us with the hope we need as we face new challenges. We move forward knowing we have overcome hardships together, that we share common interests, and that we are mutually committed to democracy, free markets, and peace.
Let me conclude by quoting the opening line of the Mutual Defense Treaty which states that the U.S. and the ROK ¢®”Ędesire to live in peace with all peoples and to strengthen the fabric of peace in the Pacific area.¢®”¾ As we celebrate this golden jubilee of the Mutual Defense Treaty, our nations remain dedicated to our alliance and committed to those important goals.
Thank you.