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| U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. Trump was on a two-day official visit to South Korea, the second stop on his 12-day tour of Asia. / Yonhap |
By Choi Ha-young
U.S. President Donald Trump stressed "peace through strength" in his speech at the National Assembly, Wednesday, giving a stern warning to North Korea.
"The regime has interpreted America's past restraint as weakness," Trump said referring to North Korea. "Do not underestimate us. Do not try us. We will defend our common security, our shared prosperity and our sacred liberty."
The U.S. president cited the country's military assets deployed around the peninsula ― the world's three largest aircraft carriers, loaded to the maximum with F-35 and F-18 fighter jets, in addition to nuclear submarines.
"The weapons you are acquiring are not making you safer," Trump said. "We will offer a path to a much better future," he added, on the condition of Pyongyang's "total denuclearization."
This was the first address by a sitting American leader here in nearly a quarter century. South Korean lawmakers applauded the speech 22 times, particularly when the American leader lauded the nation's flourishing democracy and eye-opening economic development.
The U.S. leader dedicated most of his 35-minute speech to awakening the atrocities taking place in North Korea ― forced labor, starvation, sexual exploitation, murder and torture ― labeling the country as "hell."
"The regime has made numerous lethal incursions in South Korea, attempted to assassinate senior leaders, attacked South Korean ships and tortured Otto Warmbier, ultimately leading to that fine young man's death."
He highlighted its stark difference with the southern part of the peninsula that features the "stunning skyline of Seoul." The president described the armistice line between the two Koreas as a line "between peace and war, between decency and depravity, between law and tyranny, between hope and total despair."
He made no improvised remarks about the ongoing renegotiation of the bilateral free trade agreement. In his press conference with President Moon Jae-in the day before he referred to the trade deficit but never mentioned renegotiations specifically.
Instead, President Trump hinted at a message of peace as an ultimate aim in line with the South Korean government's overall policy toward Pyongyang. "Together, we dream of a Korea that is free, a peninsula that is safe and families that are reunited once again."
Simultaneously, he urged neighboring countries to sever all ties with the Kim Jong-un regime, which also kept pace with the Moon administration. "We call on every nation, including China and Russia, to fully implement U.N. Security Council resolutions, downgrade diplomatic relations with the regime and sever all ties of trade and technology."
The speech ended with a standing ovation from all participants. Conservative lawmakers of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) hailed with acclamations. Leaving the plenary chamber, the president extended his hand for handshakes walking along the seats of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) lawmakers.
Before the event, a diehard loyalist of ousted President Park Geun-hye, Rep. Cho Won-jin, made a fuss by carrying a picket to advocate her. Two progressive lawmakers held "No War" signs following the speech but no additional controversy followed the campaign.
After the address, the DPK called for bipartisan cooperation to push for the two countries' common policy toward North Korea. "The U.S. president reaffirmed the solid Korea-U.S. alliance and joint response to deter the North's nuclear threat," party spokesman Rep. Kang Hoon-sik said. "We could confirm his support for the Moon government's North Korea policies."
On the contrary, LKP Chairman Hong Joon-pyo cast doubt on the summit the day before. "President Trump's National Assembly speech was no more than a repetition of a message from Washington, failing to relieve Koreans," Hong said on his Facebook. "It seems the administration yielded to America's demands on economy and trade not to cause dissonance between Seoul and Washington."
Starting Tuesday, the Assembly compound remained tense surrounded with guards and multilayered fences, with some gates closed temporarily. Flags of the two countries flew on the main gate of the legislative building to welcome President Trump.
Following the Assembly speech, the U.S. President headed to Seoul National Cemetery as a symbolic gesture to respect the U.S.-Korea alliance. Later in the afternoon, Trump flew to Beijing where he is likely to tackle trade complaints and cooperation in dealing with China's longstanding ally, North Korea.
