• The Republic of Korea will soar high once again when the territory cut into two for the past 7 decades is connected again and all the Korean people become one again.
  
  South Korea is ready to have dialogues openly and frankly, putting every current issue on the negotiation table, but the North Korean regime has not responded to our repeated suggestions, suggesting only preconditions. I wish North Korea will come to the table of dialogue courageously to find the best way for both North and South Korea,” President Park Geun-hye said in her opening address.
  
  According to her, when NUAC keeps on preparing for national unification patiently with clear vision and principle as a good model of social integrity, embracing all the generations and classes of Koreans both at home and abroad, the way to peaceful unification will certainly be opened.
  
  The following is the full text of the presidential address:

My most respected people and countrymen! 17th-term NUAC members and distinguished guests!

Congratulations on the launching of the 17th-term NUAC today. We welcome all NUAC members from home and abroad.

We celebrate the 70th anniversary of Independence and division of our country this year. Liberation was the start of our most proud Republic of Korea today and the dawn of hope of opening free democracy in this land.

Unfortunately, however, the excitement of becoming independent was the start of the country’s division, and we had to face extreme poverty while we went through the Korean War and restoration after the war.

Still, we have been overcoming lots of difficulties with indomitable courage and never-say-die spirit to make great history.

We have achieved economic development and democratization successfully, and Korea is the first country in the world to have been converted from an aid-receiving county into an aid-giving one.

Furthermore, Korea has been making contributions to promoting global order as one of the G-20 member countries; it has also been recognized as a country of flourishing culture, represented by the Korean Wave.

Such great history of ours is attributable to our elder generations’ devotion to developing our motherland and hard work day and night. We can find such elders who made contributions to the development of the state among the 17th-term NUAC members, and I reiterate my gratitude to them today.

Dear 17th-term NUAC members!

We should achieve a new takeoff based on our successful history of past 7 decades.

I would like to emphasize that we have some issues we should overcome for a greater takeoff by the Republic of Korea.

The Republic of Korea will soar high once again when the territory cut into two pieces for the past 7 decades is connected again and all the Korean people become one again.

The government will make every possible effort with NUAC members to open the era of a unified Korean Peninsula wherein all Koreans can be happy.

Ladies and gentlemen!

Tension is increasing in the Korean Peninsula due to repeated threats from North Korea. Nonetheless, our efforts for dialogue with North Korea should be reinforced while we maintain watertight national security.

We are ready to have dialogue with North Korea openly and frankly, putting every current issue on the negotiation table; still, the North Korean regime has not responded to our repeated requests, suggesting only preconditions.

I wish North Korea will come to the table of dialogue courageously to find the best way for both North and South Korea.

Ladies and gentlemen!

Peace is not handed on a silver plate. Peace is kept by strong power and courageous decision.

Agreements made so far between South and North Korea emphasize peace, but fear of war on the Korean Peninsula has never disappeared even for a moment for the past 70 years.

While we were excited at the World Cup games, our young soldiers lost their lives to protect our fatherland at the West Sea.

History proves that peace cannot be achieved with words.

The most serious threat to the peace of the Korean Peninsula today is nuclear weapons development by the North Korean regime.

North Korean nukes not only make the future of Korean people bleak but also threaten the peace of Asia and the world.

We understand that North Korea has been recently promoting several policies to develop its economy, but sanctions from international societies against North Korea will become harsher, and such will surely increase the instability of North Korean systems as long as Pyeongyang refuses to give up its development of nuclear weapons.

If North Korea will make the wise decision of giving up nuclear weapons, it can get both “Economy and Peace” and “Stability of System and Economic Development at the same time.

My government has been studying various projects of economic cooperation with North Korea, which can be promoted together if North Korea abandons its development of nuclear weapons.

Such projects may include building the infrastructures for the people’s livelihood, which are connected directly with their daily life; we are ready to support North Korea in building social infrastructures as well to develop its economy and special economic zone, making use of our past experiences.

Based on the example of Myanmar, which started development in full swing through reformation and open-door policy, North Korea can realize economic development with the assistance of international financing institutions as well; the South Korean government will cooperate and provide support most positively.

North Korea should forget the illusion that nuclear weapons can protect its system; I urge Pyeongyang to make a brave decision and return to international society as one of the responsible members.

Ladies and gentlemen!

Germany has achieved peaceful unification based on the voluntary choice and will of the people. Today, Germany is enjoying remarkable development and prosperity.

Ceaseless communication and exchange between the people of East and West Germany could build up valuable experiences in mutual understanding, and it was the most important power for achieving unification.

Today, the heterogeneity between the people of the two Koreas is deepening; the homogeneity between us should be recovered, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the division of the Korean Peninsula, before it is too late.

We will make more efforts to expand exchange and cooperation in order to recover the homogeneity of the people.

On the occasion of commencing the restoration of the Kyungwon Railroad line, which used to connect Seoul and Wonsan in North Korea, we will further try to enable the people in the South and North to move freely; we will also promote the project of exploring historical sites and relics along with exchange in the field of sports.

NUAC members!

NUAC is a good model of social integrity, embracing all generations and classes of Koreans both at home and abroad.

Today, we have our senior generations who have been leading the Republic of Korea for the past 7 decades as well as our future generations who will take responsibility for another 70 years to come in this place, along with those who are devoted to achieving national unification in every corner of the world.

Moreover, I can see some married couples wherein one comes from the South and the other from North Korea and some North Korean refugees who built new families here. You are the people who can give hope that the people in the south and north can be one.

National unification cannot be achieved only by the power of a government. All the people should share the vision of unification and gather their ability to unify the divided country.

I wish you will lead such movement; accordingly, the roles of NUAC are very important.

As they say, “Once a foundation stands firmly, the way will open.” When we keep on preparing for national unification patiently with clear vision and principle, the way to peaceful unification will certainly open to us. I wish NUAC members will pave and lead the way.

I wish you all good health and happiness. Again, congratulations on the launching of the 17th term-NUAC.

Thank you.