I. Introduction
It is an honor to give the keynote speech at such a meaningful gathering of domestic and foreign security experts. I would also like to express my heartfelt gratitude to IISS Director-General Dr. John Chipman, Director of AIPS Professor Han Sung-Joo and Representative Chung Mong-Joon for giving me this opportunity. I am further pleased to see that Dr. Chipman, whom I saw last during the Shangri-La Dialogue last May in Singapore, is doing great.
First, I'd like to sincerely congratulate the founding of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. I hope AIPS rises to become a world-class institution, contributing not only to peace in the Korean Peninsula and stability in the region but also to global co-prosperity.
This gathering is also a celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the International Institute for Security Studies. As you all know, IISS is a world-renowned civilian strategy think tank that has spent the past half-century promoting world peace through their work in comprehensive international security issues, such as international and ethnic conflict. I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to IISS on its fiftieth birthday, and wish it endless successes. I hope this joint seminar serves as a forum for constructive proposals and discussions that yield meaningful results and enhance Korea's role in world security.
The topic of my speech today is "Korea's role in global security." I will first touch on the characteristics of the twenty-first century security environment. I will then propose a direction for Korea's security policy as well as its role in promoting global security that would take advantage of the changes in the security environment.
II. Characteristics of the 21st century security environment
As you all know, the world situation today is extremely fluid and uncertain. Many have hoped for a safer world in the post-Cold War era. However, conflicts over ethnicity, religion and resources rage on across the world. Furthermore, the twenty-first century brought about a diverse array of new transnational, non-military threats have emerged, such as terrorism, WMD proliferation, international crimes and large-scale natural disasters.
These threats are difficult to predict, quick to spread, large in scope of damage, and affect many nations. Such characteristics make it difficult to form an effective response against them with the capabilities and efforts of just a few nations.
The Northeast Asia region surrounding the Korean Peninsula is also unstable. While interdependency among nations has increased through greater economic cooperation and exchange, there still are many potential causes for conflict such as history recognition, territoriality and competition for resources.
Looking at the situation in the Korean Peninsula, while there have been progress in exchange and cooperation between the North and the South, efforts to reduce military tensions and build trust have stalled. In addition, the military threat posed by the North remains unchanged.
North Korea possesses a vast military force with over seventy-percent of its ground forces forward-deployed. This gives the North the capability to launch a surprise attack at any time.
Furthermore, North Korea has continued development of WMDs including nuclear, biochemical weapons and missile platforms that pose a serious threat not only to the Peninsula but also to regional stability. In particular, prospects for resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue are unclear due to unexpected actions taken by the North, including the suspension of its disabling operations.
As such, the security climate around the Peninsula is uncertain and unstable. How we prepare for the changes in this security climate will have a great impact not only on stability in the Korean Peninsula but also on global and regional peace.
III. Korea's past and present in global security
This year marks the historic sixtieth anniversary of the founding of Korea. Korea was founded in the wake of World War Two, divided between the North and the South. Before its foundations could take root, Korea faced fratricidal tragedy in the form of communist invasion known as the Korean War.
At this moment of existential crisis, we were able to protect this country thanks to the Korean people who displayed iron will and sacrifice to preserve free democracy, as well as the help of the UN and our friends. The warm support and help from the international community including the United States has also allowed Korea to rise from the ruins of war and its attainment of the "Miracle of the Han" in a mere fifty years.
Today, Korea has grown to become the twelfth largest economy in the world. Sixty years ago, Korea's GDP was less than one-hundred dollars. It has grown seven-hundred-and-fifty times since. Per capita income has grown three-hundred-fold in the same period, now surpassing twenty-thousand dollars. Of the hundred-and-forty-plus nations that were founded since World War Two, only seven countries, including Korea, Singapore, Qatar and a few others, can claim a per capita income of over ten-thousand dollars. Among them, I can say that the Republic of Korea is representative of a nation that simultaneously achieved economic development and democratization.
It is time for Korea to give back to the international community even more of the support and help that this country received in the past. Korea's valuable experience in overcoming a national crisis during its founding years through the help of the international community will serve as a great asset as the country plays a part in enhancing global security and peace in the future.
IV. Korea's role in enhancing global security and peace
The new Lee Myung-bak administration's National Vision is "a country that stands tall in the world through advancement". The government is working to create a country that fulfills its roles and responsibilities in the international community. To this end, Korea will pursue a positive and open foreign policy, and actively participate in international efforts pertaining to a variety of global issues in order to contribute to world peace and co-prosperity. Based on this national vision and security policy, Korea will expand Korea's role in global security and peace through the following three approaches.
First, Korea will contribute to world peace and regional stability by managing the security situation in the Peninsula in a stable manner. This will begin by strengthening international cooperation and coordination in order to resolve the nuclear issue as soon as possible, while managing any military tensions that arise during this process of resolution in a stable manner. In addition, with the ROK-US Alliance as its base, Korea will maintain a solid readiness posture against military threats from North Korea. At the same time, Korea will take a phased approach to build military trust and control defense spending in order to create a new peace structure in the Korean Peninsula. Along with all this, efforts will be made to steer the direction of the ROK-US security cooperation beyond the Peninsula towards a 'twenty-first-century strategic alliance' that contributes to regional stability and world peace.
Second, Korea will contribute to regional stability and prosperity through strengthened security cooperation with regional neighbors. Northeast Asia is the most dynamic economic sector in the twenty-first century. However, from a security perspective, the region is host to a number of potential causes for conflict. If not managed effectively, such factors will deepen regional instability, and regional prosperity will no longer be a guarantee. Therefore, Korea will work hard with regional neighbors to effectively manage the potential causes for conflict by vitalizing and institutionalizing the various security consultative bodies and dialogues. In particular, Korea will endeavor to develop the six-party talks into a multilateral security consultative body that discusses security issues within the region in conjunction with the resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue. Furthermore, Korea will actively participate in a variety of multilateral cooperative bodies such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the East Asia Summit (EAS), and the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) to strengthen and expand its network of cooperation in Asia.
Lastly, Korea will contribute to world peace by strengthening international coordination against transnational and non-military threats and by expanding its international peacekeeping activities. Due to the rapid spread of globalization and information in recent years, no country is free from transnational and non-military threats.
In order to dealeffectively with these new kinds of security threats, nations must work together to construct an international 'information-sharing network' and establish a global 'disaster management system' and 'crisis management system.' Korea will take an active part in the construction of such systems for international cooperation. Furthermore, not only will Korea acquire the personnel and equipment necessary for immediate response to large-scale international disasters, it will also attain the capability to immediately dispatch troops to disaster areas.
This country will also take an active part in international peacekeeping activities. As a nation that has been exposed to the dangers of war and military tensions for the past sixty years, Korea understands the value of peace better than any other country. Korea has also been cited as an "Exemplary Nation in Peacekeeping Activities" by the UN for successful operations in seventeen countries with over thirty-thousand service members. Based on these desires and experiences, Korea will actively participate in international peacekeeping activities befitting its national power and prestige. To this end, systematic preparations will be made, including the revision of relevant laws and creation of a standing system for such activities.
V. Conclusion
Looking ahead, I predict that uncertainty and instability in the global security situation will only increase. New threats that are difficult to predict will also continue to emerge. Korea is keeping pace with these changes in the security environment and developing a comprehensive security posture that provides flexible response to various threats across the spectrum.
Korea will also spare no efforts in the steady expansion of its role in maintaining world stability and peace. Looking back, Korea has experience bringing about peace and prosperity from the ruins of war at the height of the Cold War. Also, as the only divided nation in the world, Korea has deterred war and has successfully managed the unstable situation in the Peninsula. Based upon these experiences, Korea seeks to be a catalyst in breaking down the dynamics of conflict and confrontation in Northeast Asia and leading it to a new era of stability and prosperity.
I'd like to end by conveying my wishes that the Korea Forum leverages the progress up to this point as a springboard to become a focal point in systematizing world peace and stability. Once again, I wish for the endless successes of the IISS and the Asan Institute for Policy Studies (AIPS). Thank you.
