President Park Geun-hye invited around 450 council members from 14 chapters in Japan, China, Canada, and Latin America who participated in the 17th Conference of Overseas Provincial Assemblies secondary conference held on June 22 to the “Conversation on Unification with Overseas Council Members.”

The Conversation on Unification began with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by Executive Vice-chairperson Yoo Ho-yeol’s appreciation speech, words of encouragement from the President, proposal of a toast by Japan Assembly Vice-chairperson Oh Gong-tae and China Assembly Vice-chairperson Lee Chang-ho, refreshments and confabulations, policy proposals from council members, cultural performances for socializing, and group souvenir photo.

“When North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test and launched its long-distance missiles early this year, 3,300 council members from 117 countries including Japan and Canada gathered a powerful national security force and held rallies, contributed to the media condemning North Korea’s provocations, and held resolution conferences,” said President Park Geun-hye. According to her, these works in each country provided important soil for creating a friendly public opinion of unification.
“North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons and long-distance missiles are a significant provocation shaking the peace not only of Northeast Asia but of the whole world as well. As long as North Korea insists on these provocations, no nation will have normal relations with North Korea, and no organization will lend it a helping hand,” she stressed.

President Park added that, based on firm cooperation with the international community, the government is creating an environment wherein the North Korean government realizes that, without giving up nuclear power, there is no future, and that it must choose the path of change. “If by any chance North Korea dares to conduct additional nuclear tests, our government will, with the international community, take even stronger action; the North Korean government must realize that, at the end of reckless provocation, only utter isolation and self-destruction remain,” she explained.

Finally, she asked for leadership in uniting public opinion as well as the people so that, in the future, creative change can take place beyond separation, freedom and happiness may overflow, and we can build a united Republic of Korea that leads world peace and prosperity.

On the other hand, in his appreciation speech, Executive Vice-chairperson Yoo Ho-yeol, who represents the council members, stressed that overcoming our ignorance of North Korea, our indifference toward unification, and our lethargy toward the North Korean nuclear problem is the only way we can win this battle of unification. “The twenty thousand council members of NUAC will pour their hearts and souls into paving the way for unification,” he said, making his resolution clear.

After expressing their appreciation for President Park Geun-hye’s deep understanding and encouragement of the overseas NUAC’s works through their toast proposal, China Assembly Vice-chairperson Lee Chang-ho (left in the picture above) and Japan Assembly Vice-chairperson Oh Gong-tae (right), proposed that “overseas council members lead the way for the Republic of Korea’s prosperity and peaceful unification,” and the participating council members applauded in response.

Next, during the policy proposal session, Ahn Cheong-rak, head of the Shenyang Chapter, China (left in the photo above), Im Jeong-sin, council member of the Western South America Assembly (middle), and Park Yoo-shik, council member of the Eastern Japan Assembly (right), put forward proposals as representatives of the participating council members.

Shenyang Chapter Head Ahn Cheong-rak introduced various unification activity works that bring out the characteristics of the three provinces of Northeast China, such as “Declaration of Independence Commemoration Ceremony,” “Koreans Arirang Concert,” “Unification Golden Bell,” and “Unification Camp for Korean Youths,” which explores Goguryo, Balhae, and other anti-Japanese historic sites. He proposed that we prepare for unification in tandem with the ethnic Koreans living in the three provinces of Northeast China.

Im Jeong-sin, council member of the Western South America Assembly, noted how the Caribbean-Central American Chapter’s leading role in fund-raising enabled the opening of the Korean Descendants Culture Center in Cuba, which then became the center of the Liberation Day commemoration events, and management of the Korean Language Classroom, through which Korean descendants’ identities and networks in Cuba are established. He also talked about how the Western South America Chapter is helping raise awareness of North Korea’s human rights problems and of peaceful unification of the Korean peninsula by hosting a North Korean human rights photo exhibition in the Congress of the Argentine nation’s exhibition hall.

Park Yoo-sik, council member of the Eastern Japan Assembly, reported plans of inspiring many Korean youths living in Japan, with around 300 of them aiming to be a homeland-visiting group this coming September, in order to raise competent individuals and enhance the historical awareness needed for the unification of the peninsula.

Through this “unification conversation” session, overseas council members were able to ascertain the government’s strong will to solve the North Korea nuclear problem and realize peaceful unification, seeing it as an opportunity to inculcate a sense of responsibility as well as courage as council members.

Greetings, everyone! Council members from Japan, China, Canada, and Latin America -- welcome to the Blue House. There are some of you who are revisiting after the 16th Assembly, and I am happy to see you all in good health.

During the Conversation on Unification held two years ago, I asked you to take an active role as civilian diplomats of unification; since then, I’ve heard news of overseas council members making efforts all over the world.

I heard that, in October last year, the China Assembly hosted a 15000 li (6000km) Unification Aspiration provisional government tour wherein they invited 33 Korean youths to visit various independence historic sites. I believe this was a meaningful program that enabled young Koreans of the world to learn about the sacrifices of independence fighters and inspired in them the spirit of unification.

The Caribbean-Central American Chapter founded a culture center for Korean descendants in Cuba and played a leading role in nongovernmental diplomacy, introducing Korean culture to the local people; based on this effort, our two countries are becoming closer.

Early this year when North Korea conducted the fourth nuclear test and launched long-distance missiles, 3,300 council members from 117 countries including Japan and Canada gathered a powerful national security force in a rally condemning North Korea’s provocations, contributed to the media, and held resolution conferences. Such actions of yours are becoming important soil in creating positive public opinion on unification in each nation. Thank you once again for your efforts for our unification and prosperity.

Overseas council members -- our government has done its best to eliminate the terror of nuclear power and war from the Korean peninsula and to establish peace as well as a basis for unification so that our brothers in the North, too, can enjoy freedom and human rights. Nonetheless, North Korea has, to the end, dared to continue its nuclear tests and launching of missiles, making even now the forced argument that it is a nuclear power state while continuing down the path of provocation and isolation — a path that’s dangerous beyond measure. North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons and long-distance missiles are a significant provocation shaking the peace of not only Northeast Asia but of the whole world as well.

As long as North Korea insists on these provocations, no nation in the world will have normal relations with North Korea, and no organization will lend it a helping hand.

Based on firm cooperation with the international community, the government is creating an environment wherein the North Korean government realizes that, without giving up nuclear power, there is no future, and that it must choose the path of change. If by any chance North Korea dares to conduct additional nuclear tests, our government will, with the international community, take even stronger action; the North Korean government must realize that, at the end of reckless provocation, only utter isolation and self-destruction remain.

My fellow guests, back when the Republic of Korea suffered from war and everything was in ruins, no one in the world expected this poor nation to grow into the nation it is today. Still, we never gave up; through hard work and sacrifice, dedication and unity, we built the Republic of Korea. Just as the strong will to live a good life created the miracle of Hangang River, if we go forth with policies in a consistent manner and bring our wishes for unification together, we can surely make the miracle of unification happen, too.

In the process of national development and dawning of the age of unification, there will be many difficulties and impasses as well. If we make national interest as well as the future our sole priority and decide everything fairly and transparently, and if the people put their strength behind it, however, I believe that we, the Republic of Korea, will surely overcome all hardships and open a new and prospering age of unification.

Yesterday, there was an announcement regarding the new airport. There were many regions hoping for the construction of the new airport, but in January last year, the heads of local governments related to the new airport got together, commissioned the service of the highest foreign professional organization, and promised to follow its decision.

The commissioned organization inspected everything and concluded that expanding Gimhae Airport to the scale of a new airport would be the best solution, and the government decided to accept this proposal.

Not only would this proposal be able to realize budget savings; it would also solve safety problems during aircraft takeoff and landing or aircraft demand, which was expected to increase rapidly, by building a V-shaped new runway and a large terminal that drastically enhances processing capacity. The government will do its best to make the building of the new Gimhae Airport a success amidst the kudos from the citizens.

You see, even about such matters where social interests were in sharp conflict, when mutual agreement amongst the parties involved, respect for the opinions of professional organizations, and support of the government are well-harmonized, any hardship can be solved.

I ask that you show leadership in uniting public opinion and citizenship so that, in the future, creative change can take place beyond separation, freedom and happiness may overflow, and we can build a united Republic of Korea that leads world peace and prosperity.

I hope you will all be healthy and happy. Thank you.