Speech Transcript: Young-Sun Ha, Sung-hwan Kim, General James D. Thurman

Date: October 21, 2011

Venue: Westin Chosun Hotel, Seoul

Welcoming Speech

Young-Sun Ha, Professor of Seoul National University

感谢各位贵宾，包括金星焕外交通商部长官、李洪九东亚研究院理事长、金振贤委员长等，今天莅临东亚研究院韩美同盟会议。关于美国相对衰落和中国相对崛起所带来的新东亚秩序及韩美同盟的未来，相关的论述和国内会议如瀑布般涌现。一直以来，东亚研究院以生产有实效的讨论为目标，而非形式化的国际会议，此次再次举办关于东亚新安全秩序和韩美同盟的国际专家会议，主要有两个特别的原因。

第一，旨在为正确认识和展望新出现的、由美中主导的东亚秩序，建立新的框架。目前国内外的主流讨论局限于以攻击性安全为前提的悲观论和以经济相互依存为基础的乐观论的狭隘视野。然而，纵观历史，我们看到动荡的历史现实总是超越既有的狭隘视野向前发展。21世纪的美中关系也正开始经历超越现有冲突与合作的朴素视野的、更为复杂的变化。作为21世纪共同主演登场的美国和中国这两个大国，一方面在努力解决各自面临的国内难题，另一方面也开始与其他东亚舞台上的主角们一起，构建新的复合网络，以解决当前面临的国际问题。代表世界知识秩序的今日会议的国际专家们，将尝试进行区别于其他国际会议的新型讨论，以期能准确地阐明这一问题。

第二，是在新构建的东亚复合秩序中，如何推进韩美同盟的演变，这是一个需要解决的课题。同盟的本意是指国家之间为保障对方安全而互相提供帮助的正式承诺。与20世纪冷战秩序下的二元对立同盟不同，21世纪复合时代下的同盟必须呈现出更为复杂的面貌。本次会议将认真探讨，在深化韩美日传统网络的同时，最大限度地扩大韩中网络，以实现东亚共同进步的道路。

我期待今天在各位国内外来宾的热烈关注下，各位国际专家们进行的活跃讨论，将成为载入史册的、为解决21世纪东亚面临的两大重大课题提供新线索的国际会议，并在此结束我的欢迎辞。

谢谢大家。

Keynote Speech

Sung-hwan Kim, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Republic of Korea

I would like to begin by thanking the East Asia Institute for inviting me to the 5th ROK-US Alliance International Conference. As we reflect on the successful outcomes of the recent ROK-US summit meeting, I believe it is an opportune time for us to give thought to the changes in the international order and Korea's diplomacy.

The international order of the 21st century is undergoing rapid change.

Above all, the so-called ‘rise of the rest’ such as China and India, is ushering in multi-polarity in the international order. Thus, we now live in an era of a complex order, where "power is found in many hands and in many places," as stated by Dr. Haas, President of the Council on Foreign Relations.

The emergence of this complex order may mainly be attributed to two factors. One is the redistribution of power as developing countries have risen in status. And the other is the formation of global networks through globalization and the information revolution, which has brought the world closer together, as one village, and has greatly increased the interdependence between countries.

As a result, the international community is no longer zero-sum in nature as it was during the Cold War era.

This is reflected in various forms of multilateral governance regimes coping with such transnational issues as economic crises, terrorism, poverty and climate change. The G20 Summit is a good example. And the concerted efforts by the international community in addressing the European financial crisis is another. In the process of addressing such transnational issues, the complex order of the 21st century will further gain pace.

As the rise of China has greatly contributed to such a transition in the international order, China has set the promotion of peaceful development as one of its diplomatic strategies. It aims to build an "Overall Xiaokang Society" by 2020 and emphasizes that it is exerting diplomatic efforts to create a peaceful and stable international environment so as to concentrate on its domestic development. Even with the rise of Chinese influence, many experts expect that the US and China will by and large maintain the course of cooperative engagement.

The reason is that the interests of the US and China are so deeply intertwined that there is considerable resilience in their relations. Furthermore, it is impossible to resolve global issues such as the stabilization of international finance or tackling climate change and terrorism without cooperation between the US and China.

In the same vein, US State Secretary Hillary Clinton clearly underlined this when she stated in Hawaii, prior to her visit to Asia last October, that it is not in anyone's interest for the US and China to see each other as adversaries from a zero-sum perspective.

This new security environment prompts Korea to embrace a proactive diplomatic strategy. That is why we seek to develop the traditional ROK-US alliance into a multi-dimensional alliance, while deepening the strategic cooperative partnership with China. This is based on our belief that our multi-dimensional alliance with the US and strategic cooperative partnership with China can both thrive.

As for Korea's relations with the US, President Lee's recent state visit was an excellent testimony to the achievements in the ROK-US alliance, which is believed to be at their best level ever, and laid a pivotal cornerstone for the multi-dimensional strategic alliance. The US Congress approved the KOR-US FTA during President Lee’s state visit and President Obama offered exceptional protocol and hospitality as demonstrated by the phenomenal private dinner for President Lee and the joint visit to Detroit.

Another notable event was the situation briefing on North Korea that President Lee received at the Pentagon, with the Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and heads of each branch of the military in attendance.

As has been the case so far, the ROK-US Alliance continues to serve as a vital pillar to deter North Korea and to lay a foundation for unification. With the adoption of the ‘Joint Vision for the ROK-U.S. Alliance’ in June, 2009, both countries have proactively responded to the changing security environment in Northeast Asia.

The two countries have diligently taken actions for a new military command structure by adjusting the date of the transfer of wartime Operational Control (OPCON) to December 2015 and adopting the ‘Strategic Alliance 2015’.

The first ROK-U.S. Foreign and Defense Ministers' Meeting, which was held in July 2010, affirmed the US’s full commitment to the security of the Republic of Korea and a strong joint defense posture.

And both countries share the basic values of freedom, human rights, democracy, and the market economy and work together for the development of those values. The ROK and US have been playing a leading role in promoting democracy in such forums as the Community of Democracies.

Moreover, the ROK-US alliance shares strategic interests all over the world and we are working together to address challenges at the national, regional, and global levels. Our two countries are working together in various places around the globe, such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, and Haiti. The US’s full support for the hosting of the 2012 Nuclear Summit in Seoul also serves as a demonstration of the depth of the strategic cooperation between the two countries.

And, with the approval of the KOR-US FTA in the US, both countries have added an "economic alliance" to the existing ROK-US security alliance. Thus, successfully elevating this alliance to a multi-dimensional one.

With regard to China, Korea's diplomacy aims to develop Korea-China relations in harmony with the ROK-US alliance because Korea-China relations are important not only for the achievement of peace, stability and prosperity in Northeast Asia, but also for the unification of the Korean Peninsula.

As such, the Lee Myung-bak administration has stepped up engagement in high-level meetings with China. Cooperation in the defense field is gaining momentum, as shown with the holding of the 8th Defense Ministerial Talks last July.

In 2008, Korea and China upgraded their relations to a 'Strategic Cooperative Partnership'. Since then the two countries have engaged in discussions and cooperation not only on bilateral matters, but also on regional and international issues, working together to contribute to world peace and development.

In particular, we have been able to engage in more open discussions on North Korean issues with China. This marks a stark departure from the past, when China had been reluctant to discuss such issues with the ROK.

Next year, we will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties with China. Building upon the friendly relations that Korea and China have fostered, we will continually strive to further our Strategic and Cooperative Partnership.

Concerning the North Korean nuclear issue, North Korea has yet to implement the agreements reached through the Six-Party Talks. Rather, last November, North Korea revealed its uranium enrichment facility which constitutes an alternate route to developing nuclear weapons. Regarding the nuclear issue, many years of experience with North Korea tells us that it is imperative to set the right conditions before resuming negotiations. On this point, there is no daylight between Seoul and Washington. And in this light, the ROK-US alliance is at the center of our efforts.

As part of such efforts, two rounds of inter-Korean talks and one round of US-DPRK talks have been held. The second round of US-DPRK talks are to be held in Geneva next week. Seoul and Washington will keep urging North Korea to demonstrate through specific actions that it has true intentions to abandon its nuclear program. In the process, we are pursuing a comprehensive and fundamental solution based on the Grand Bargain Initiative, which encompasses irreversible denuclearization measures by North Korea for the complete dismantlement of its nuclear program and corresponding measures by the other five parties.

At the same time, it is clear that unless the North Korean nuclear issue is completely resolved, it is impossible to establish true peace and stability in the region. As such, Beijing is actively making efforts to resolve the issue together with Seoul and Washington.

And as Korea and China intimately engage in strategic communications on key security issues like the North Korean nuclear issue through exchanges of visits by high-level officials, our Strategic Partnership will grow deeper and deeper.

In the current international landscape, non-government actors such as business, civil society and individuals are assuming greater importance on the global stage. And the agenda is diversifying to encompass such issues as terrorism, environment, and climate change, among others.

Accordingly, there is a need for fundamental change in how we conduct diplomacy. It is in this light that we envision a new over-arching diplomatic strategy for the 21st century, as the US has introduced the QDDR.

With this new strategy, we will be able to expand our diplomatic horizons to go one step closer to realizing our vision of a "Global Korea". I would like to bring my remarks to a close by saying that networks are emerging as a key element in the diplomacy of the 21st century. Achieving the goal of a global Korea will also depend on how effectively we can build networks of cooperation with countries around the world.

In this regard, I believe that this meeting is indeed of great value. I hope that the 'ROK-U.S. Alliance International Conference' will continue to play a valuable role in fostering deeper ties of friendship between the participants and, more broadly, in contributing to peace and stability in East Asia.

Thank you for your kind attention.

Luncheon Speech

General James D. Thurman, Commander of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command

Ambassador Jong (former ROK Ambassador to Japan and England), Professor Ha, Professor Chun, members of the East Asia Institute and Distinguished guests, thank you for your participation in this great event.

Professor Chun, thank you for your kind introduction and for inviting me to speak today. I am honored and privileged to speak to this distinguished group. Your work in expanding the dialogue about Northeast Asian affairs and the importance of the ROK-U.S. Alliance provides a great service to both of our nations, thank you.

As the Commander of United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and United States Forces Korea, I am honored to have the privilege of leading the outstanding Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and civilians of this command, which stands by with the great ROK military, the military element of the greatest alliance in the world, the ROK-U.S. Alliance, which only gets stronger every day. The theme of this conference, “A New Security Order in East Asia and the ROK-U.S. Alliance,” is relevant as we look both at the dynamics of the Northeast Asia region and the future of the ROK-U.S. Alliance.

Northeast Asia is an important region for the greater global community. This region is home to some of the largest and fastest growing economies and militaries in the world. The countries of Northeast Asia produce one fifth of the world economic output and is responsible for 19% of world trade. Most notably, Northeast Asia continues to be a global economic engine despite current global financial challenges that we see around the globe.

This region is also home to 4 of the 6 largest militaries in the world. 3 countries in the region possess nuclear capabilities and all the countries in this region continue to modernize their armed forces to meet current and perceived future security threats. We are seeing countries in the region embracing efforts to attain and develop new and asymmetric technologies as alternatives to maintaining large standing militaries.

Regrettably, North Korea continues to lead this effort. North Korea has turned to ballistic missile technology, weapons of mass destruction, and other asymmetric capabilities to meet its perceived security needs. The United Nations Security Council and responsible nations in the region have called on the north to abandon these weapons programs. I again call on North Korea to cease its development and testing of nuclear weapons and their means of delivery and fulfill its existing commitments to denuclearize. I believe North Korea’s growing asymmetric capabilities increasingly threaten peninsular and regional stability. We must remain prepared and ready to defend against and deter these capabilities.

Over the last 60 years the ROK-U.S. Alliance has grown into one of the strongest alliances in the world. It has grown from one singularly focused on the defense of a valued ally, to one of shared intrinsic values like democracy, free-market economics, and human rights. Last week, our tremendous Alliance became more multi-faceted through the U.S. Senate ratification of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement. Today, this Alliance stands very strong and it’s ready to deter aggression on the Korean peninsula and defend these values. As always, our Alliance is prepared to fight and win if deterrence should fail.

That said, the ROK-U.S. Alliance is about much more than North Korea. As a result of our enduring commitment to our South Korean allies and the unparalleled strategic importance of the Northeast Asia, I want to emphasize that the U.S. remains committed in the region both now and in the future. The United States is and always will be a strategic partner with its allies and friends in this region. The ROK-U.S. alliance is one example and a pillar of this commitment.

While our alliance is meeting the security challenges that it faces today, it is evolving to ensure that it can meet any potential security challenges in the future. Looking ahead, we must continue strengthening and transforming our Alliance in response to current and future security challenges. The United States fully supports our South Korean ally’s increasing initiatives to maintain international peace and stability. We are grateful for ROK military contributions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and off the Horn of Africa. We are also grateful for the hard-work the Republic of Korea does world-wide to eliminate poverty and disease. We look forward to even greater cooperation on these international issues in the future.

In fact, our governments have already developed a plan to prepare for this future of greater bilateral partnership. In June 2009, president Obama and President Lee signed and issued the Joint Vision Statement. This statement affirms our shared common values and asserts that these shared values transcend the Korean peninsula and the region. The Joint Vision Statement commits our countries to building a comprehensive strategic alliance of bilateral, regional, and global scope to meet this reality.

In order to implement the Joint Vision Statement, we have developed and implemented Strategic Alliance 2015. This is a comprehensive plan that allows the Alliance to synchronize multiple key initiatives to successfully transfer wartime operational control of South Korean military forces to the chairman of the Republic of Korea Joints Chiefs of Staff. It also synchronizes on-going initiatives using a whole of government approach to propel the Alliance into the future.

We can never overlook that in the whole of government, the military is just one piece.

《战略联盟2015》包含四个主要组成部分，我将重点介绍。首先，我们继续制定和完善基于朝鲜可能采取的各种行动（包括挑衅、不稳定和直接攻击）的现实计划并执行演习。其次，我们将在2015年前改变韩美组织结构及指挥控制关系。第三，韩国军队正在发展额外的能力，使其能够为作战指挥权移交做好准备。最后，通过将美军整编为平泽和达成两个永久基地，我们正在实现更高的效率。

联盟正稳步推进该计划的实施。我们已深入执行《陆地伙伴关系计划》，并期待在执行《龙山迁移计划》方面取得更大进展。我们将继续审查这些计划以及我们目前正在进行的所有转型举措，以确保我们以适当的地点配置能力并实现预期的效率。我们正确保这些举措满足联盟当前和未来的需求。

我们的演习计划正在全面实施。我们正利用演习来确认我们的计划是有效的，并且拥有适当的组织结构和适当的指挥控制关系。我们的演习计划尤为重要，因为它使我们能够识别和完善军事和民事能力，我相信这是我们伟大联盟所必需的。

两国共同投资必要军事能力以最好地应对不确定的未来至关重要。我学到的一件事是，当我们试图预测未来时，我们总是会出错。根据《战略联盟2015》，联盟当前可用的任何能力都不会有任何损失。然而，随着我们超越战时作战指挥权移交，并着眼于全球安全合作，双方共同致力于建设这些能力，以便我们相互补充，这一点至关重要。韩国军队拥有领导联合-联合战斗的装备、组织和训练至关重要。韩国必须拥有持续的监视能力；可互操作的联合指挥、控制、通信、计算机和情报系统；反潜和反水雷作战的海军能力，以及抵消非对称威胁的能力，以确保韩国参谋长联席会议拥有领导这个伟大国家防御所需的所有工具。

《战略联盟2015》远不止是战时作战指挥权的移交。它通过政府整体方法同步正在进行的举措，以推动联盟走向未来。我们的国家需要发展和支持我们整个政府的能力。我特别提到外交、信息和经济工具在应对安全挑战方面与军事工具同等重要。对这些国家权力要素的资源和培训进行投资至关重要。它们是重要的塑造活动，当同时使用时，可以减轻对军事力量的需求。朝鲜最近的挑衅和袭击事件，更加凸显了整个政府（而不仅仅是军队）提高能力的重要性。当我们面临挑战时，我们应始终专注于基于联盟的解决方案来解决联盟问题。

《战略联盟2015》建立在我们伟大联盟已有的牢固基础之上。它使我们的联盟能够充分发挥威慑或击败朝鲜侵略的能力。它还使联盟能够为地区和全球的和平与稳定做出更大贡献。我认为这至关重要。

本次会议表明，贵方与我国政府一样，致力于朝鲜半岛及本地区的和平与稳定。韩美同盟是世界上最强大的同盟，只要我还是联合国军/韩美联合司令部/驻韩美军司令，我将尽我所能加强这一同盟。遗憾的是，我的日程安排不允许我留下参加问答环节。感谢各位参加此次盛会。 감사합니다. 같이 갑시다. ■

由东亚研究所编写。东亚研究所在政策问题上不持任何机构立场，也与韩国政府没有任何隶属关系。其出版物中包含的所有事实陈述和观点表达均由作者或作者本人承担全部责任。