Good morning, fellow Koreans,

On April 11, the general elections for the 19th National Assembly were held safely. I am deeply grateful to all of you for your cooperation. The Government will proactively reflect the public sentiments expressed through the elections in running state affairs. 

This year, for the first time in 20 years, the general elections and the presidential election are to be held in the same year. We are looking ahead to elect a new President in December. Until the last day in the office, my Administration and I will do what we can to the best of our abilities to micromanage state affairs and stabilize the day-to-day living of the people.

I call on both the ruling and opposition parties to work together when it comes to issues concerning the lives of ordinary citizens and national interests even if they engage in fierce but fair competition leading up to the election.

Fellow citizens,

On April 13, North Korea fired off a long-range ballistic missile. The North claims that what they launched was a satellite for peaceful purposes, not a missile, but the whole world knows that it was in fact a cover for developing long-range missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

It was out of such concerns that the United Nations Security Council, including China and Russia, unanimously adopted a resolution to sanction North Korea in 2009. The resolution prohibits the North from conducting any launch using ballistic missile technology, be it a satellite or a missile. This time again, the entire world, including China and Russia, strongly opposed the North’s plan and warned it against the launch.

North Korea, however, pushed ahead with the missile launch, bringing on its own isolation from the international community yet again and finding itself in greater difficulties.

In the 21st century, no country can survive alone while being isolated. Even such big countries like the United States and China are working together with the world on all fronts, from economy to even security.

Only the North is heading down the path of isolation going against global trends. Since the 1980s, North Korea has shut its doors more tightly to prevent the current of change from flowing in, saying they would live in their own way. This is, however, an outdated way of thinking that might have been only possible in the Cold War era.

The leadership of North Korea might think they could help further consolidate their regime by threatening the world with nuclear weapons and missiles. However, such acts will only put North Korea in greater danger. History clearly shows that the self-inflicted collapse of the former Soviet Union during the Cold War era was brought about by a focus on the arms race to maintain its internal regime while disregarding the lives of the people.

In this era, it is all the more improbable for North Korea alone to engage in an arms race against global powers.  Making matters worse, the North’s continued pursuit of the development of nuclear weapons and missiles requires a colossal amount of financial resources, which will only aggravate the already difficult livelihood of its people.

The cost of the North’s launch this time is estimated to reach a whopping US$850 million. With the money spent for the launch of a missile, it is possible to purchase 2.5 million tons of corn, an amount that would make up the North’s shortage of food for six years, and completely address the food shortage.

At the Nuclear Security Summit held last March, Chinese President Hu Jintao remarked that North Korea had to abandon its plan to launch a rocket and put its focus on improving the lives of its citizens.
By firing off a missile this time, the North even broke its agreement with the United States concluded on February 29. Consequently, it became impossible for the North to receive 240,000 tons of nutritional assistance that the United States had promised. When you consider that one out of every three North Korean citizens is suffering from malnutrition, it is tantamount to taking food out of the mouths of hungry people.

The reason for the existence of any nation is to make sure that its people live happily and comfortably.

Sixty years ago when Korea was first divided into South and North, the North was more industrialized than the South. The North was better off compared to the South in many aspects. Now, however, the South’s economic power is about 40 times that of the North, individual income about 20 times and trade volume about 200 times.

Furthermore, South Korea is a free and democratic country that is emerging as a leading nation of the world. As revealed through the recent general elections, the North should awaken quickly to the fact that its ceaseless attempts to divide South Korean society are to no avail.

The way for the North to survive is to voluntarily dismantle its nuclear weapons and to cooperate with the international community through reform and open-door policies.

As the result of concentrating on economic development for the past 30 years through reform and open-door policies, China has now become one of the largest economies on earth. Vietnam fought a long war with the United States. But through reinstatement of a good relationship, it has collaborated with Washington and carried out reform and open-door polices, registering a high annual growth rate exceeding 7 percent on average.

Even though Myanmar is rich in natural resources, the country has long remained underdeveloped since it gained independence because it has walked on the socialist path. Quite recently, however, the nation has embarked on economic development by deciding to democratize, reform and open its doors.

There is no reason for the North not to do likewise. If it would only decide to unlock its doors and redirect its course now, it would not take long for it to catch up with China and Vietnam.

Earlier this year, with the inauguration of a new leadership, the North resumed dialogue with the United States and was given a precious opportunity to transform.  It is, therefore, regrettable that it is again losing another opportunity by launching the missile.

Pyongyang need not be afraid of making changes. There is no one whosoever that is trying to threaten or change it with the use of force or coercion.  If the North changes on its own, the international community as well as South Korea will work together with it.

It is often said that the North will not change, but I am not giving up hope of its doing so. The South not only has expectations for change in the North but also is ready to embrace it. I look forward to the day when the Korean Peninsula blossoms with flowers of peace and all Koreans enjoy common prosperity.

The cold weather seems to have retreated and forsythias, azaleas and cherries are rapidly coming into full bloom. With the coming of spring, I have new hope.

Thank you very much my fellow citizens.