Quick Link

for your convenience!

The Republic of Korea and Canada - Deepening Commitments

Remarks by the Hon. David Kilgour, Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) and

Member of Parliament for Edmonton Southeast

at a dinner celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations

Westin Hotel, Edmonton

February 22, 2003

Like you, I’m delighted to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Canada. Although I’ve had the good fortune to visit Korea twice in the past year, the last time I spoke formally in Canada about relations between our two countries was on the eve of the World Cup Soccer Tournament. One couldn’t call for a Canadian victory because we were not represented in the tournament. I’m happy to tell you, however, that in a very public forum, I risked losing diplomatic relations with all other participating Asia-Pacific nations when I loudly threw my support behind the Korean team and predicted a resounding victory!

The World Cup was a chance for a prodigious country to show itself off to the world. And that it did! Not only were people from around the world introduced to typical Korean tenacity and hospitality, World Cup celebrations in cities like Edmonton, Vancouver and Toronto opened many Canadians’ eyes to the vibrance and energy of the Korean Community across Canada.

The over 120,000 Canadians of Korean origin have brought much to this country: investments, entrepreneurial skills, new business and employment, values and awareness and the energy to build strong secular and spiritual institutions. The Korean government reports Canada as the first choice for emigrants. The benefits of this to Canada are immense. I’m told that fully 80% of Koreans who immigrate here fall in the “skilled category”; among these, six in ten have backgrounds in vital computer and engineering fields. Korean university students have also demonstrated a keen interest in studying at Canadian schools and universities. According to the Korea Herald, 15% of all Korean students studying internationally are now doing so in Canada. At the University of Alberta there are 200 full-time students and 200 learning English. The up to 2000 Canadians who leave for Korea each year to teach English are also building long term relationships with all things Korean. We need look no further than around this room to see the impact that Korean Canadians are having on the economy and culture of their adopted country.

A Shared History

That Koreans and Canadians are so similar should come as a surprise to no one. Despite several obvious, but superficial differences, our two nations have much in common - starting with an often shared history. Canadian missionaries were among the first Westerners to settle in Korea and dedicate their lives to the country. Although their names are not always widely known in Canada, many of them are well-known in Korea. They include Luther Young, the first Presbyterian missionary who worked with Korean communities in Japan prior to the Second World War; John Scarth Gale, who created the Korean-English dictionary and translated numerous Western works into Korean; Malcolm Fenwick, who modernized agriculture and introduced apples; and of course Dr. Frank Schofield, whose support for the Korean independence movement is recognized throughout the peninsula. These individuals represent the initial pillars of a human bridge that now stands stronger than ever.

Our two nations will always be bound by the shared sacrifices made during the Korean War (1950-1953). Over 27,000 Canadians defended Korea and more than 500 gave their lives. I’m pleased to note that both governments and peoples have not forgotten the Canadians who fought to preserve Korea’s freedom. New memorials to the Canadian effort have been built in Canada and Korea and the Korean government has sponsored an effort to enable veterans to return to Korea to visit the memorials and sites.

Economic bonds

As neighbours to economic and military heavyweights, we have each created dynamic economies that are flourishing despite regional slowdowns. Canada led the G7/8 in economic growth rates in 2002 and Korea’s economy is now larger than those of Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia together. The result is impressive two-way trade between our countries totalling $6.5 billion. Korea has become Canada’s eighth largest trading partner, and I’m proud to note that - at over $2.4 billion - Canadian firms were the second largest source of foreign direct investment in Korea in 2001.

Our bonds run beyond simply dollars and won. Koreans share what many in this country believe to be “Canadian values”. We are each committed to respecting the inherent dignity of each human being, to the rule of law and to the importance of the United Nations (UN) and other multilateral organizations in which we often share not only memberships, but similar objectives. Canadians and Koreans both believe in the power of democracy to create freedom and opportunity and work actively to promote it both domestically and abroad.

At a meeting of the Community of Democracies held in Seoul last November, President Kim Dae-Jung gave a moving speech on the subject. Many of you will know that President Kim has paid a high price for his life-long democratic convictions. There have been several attempts on his life and he still walks with a limp from beatings he received in the 1970s. It is perhaps not surprising then that our host also told us that the greatest achievement of the 20th century was helping democracy to take root and spread across the planet. He noted, “Out of 200-odd countries in the world, 140 have adopted a multi-party system. This is significant progress, considering the fact that only about 30 countries were rated as democracies up until the mid-70s.”

President Kim went on to say that in his mind democracy is necessary to achieve a “transparent, fair and viable market economy. It was precisely because of the failure to establish a democratic market economic system that the Korean economy, which flourished under authoritarian rule, became mired in serious crisis in 1998. Thereafter, Korea launched a reform drive to promote a market economy in parallel with democracy, thereby overcoming the crisis in only two years and leading to the success of today.”

Relations with DPRK

Roh Moo-hyun’s recent election as the youngest person ever to become President of the RoK represents the vibrant nature of Korean democracy and the face of a new generation of leaders. The President-elect will start his term with one of the most complex, sensitive crises ever to face a modern Korean leader.

While the maturing relationship between South and North Korea represents the best means for addressing the present crisis peacefully, the current situation is of great concern to the entire international community. Canada deplores the DPRK’s decision to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and has repeatedly informed the DPRK of our concerns about its unwillingness to adhere to established international non-proliferation norms and fulfill its obligations.

The Chretien government strongly supported President Da-jung’s “Sunshine Policy” and favours the President-elect’s clear intention to expand relations with the North. Allowing the North to slip further into isolation would result in an even greater threat to security on the peninsula and around the world. Erich Weingartner, one of Canada’s foremost experts on North Korea, suggests that beyond security concerns, South Korea’s approach is driven by a desire to enable North Korea to develop its own economy to a point where an eventual reunification would make economic sense.

A respected diplomat says that much of the reason why the temperature of recent events has escalated to its current level is because of a mutual lack of understanding between Pyongyang and Washington. He adds that the greatest danger of the situation is that people are misreading each others’ signals in much the same way that occurred during the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War. President Bush, for example, has clearly said that the U.S. has no intention of attacking. North Korea interprets the “axis of evil” comments and the U.S. declaration of its right to pre-emptive military action as a threat to their own national security. Ultimate negotiating positions could be surprisingly compatible. In my friend’s words, “the great paradox of this situation is that both countries have thus stated positions that are very close to what the other is requiring, yet they are not really engaging, largely because of the history of hostility, deep mutual distrust and lack of communication and understanding that characterizes their relationship.”

The first major step needed to approach the level of confidence needed to resolve this situation is for all rhetoric to be toned down. To create a different, more cooperative atmosphere, diplomacy must clearly respect cultural differences, including the North Korean sense of self-reliance, or “Juche”.

Engagement must begin soon, because as we all know, political events have become deeply linked to an equally urgent issue: North Korea’s imminent humanitarian crisis. UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, sent Canadian Maurice Strong to Pyongyang primarily to assess this situation. He returned reporting that “severe economic decline in the North has inflicted widespread suffering on its people and an estimated eight million people, mainly children, the ill and the elderly, are at imminent risk with the prospect that the supplies of food and humanitarian aid required to sustain them will come to an end in April. “This could produce severe suffering, particularly of children, the aged and infirm who are most vulnerable, unless urgent action is taken to mobilize the new supplies required to avoid it.”

While our government in Ottawa has stated that it will not be “business as usual” in our bilateral relations with the DPRK until the nuclear issues is addressed, Canada will continue to respond to humanitarian needs. It is more important than ever that targeted food aid reaches those who need it most. We are working to ensure this aid continues to flow and our encouraging our friends to do the same. It is everyone’s hope that one day the same prosperity enjoyed by South Koreans will be experienced by their brothers and sisters to the North as well.

Among the many shared values between Canadians and Koreans, perhaps the strongest is our joint desire to see lasting peace, dignity and human security for all peoples of this shrinking world. Our mutual respect has drawn us together in the past, and I have no doubt that through growing co-operation between our governments, nationals of both countries, and especially the people in this room - our ties will grow even stronger in the future.

We have a wonderful night ahead of us. A hearty congratulations and thanks to all of tonight’s organizers and performers.

Thank you.

-30-