Park drums up support for unification

President Park Geun-hye addresses the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Tuesday. She called for international support for unification of the two Koreas, urging the North to open its reclusive regime and scrap its nuclear weapons. / Yonhap

N. Korea urged to choose path toward openness

By Kang Seung-woo

President Park Geun-hye called for international support for unification of the two Koreas in a keynote speech to the U.N. General Assembly’s 70th session in New York, Tuesday.

“Just as the United Nations (U.N.) blessed the birth of Korea in 1948, I dream of a day to come soon when the entire world celebrates a unified Korea,” Park said.

“Ending the seven-decades-long history of a divided Korean Peninsula -- the last remaining vestige of the Cold War -- will mark nothing less than a contribution to world peace.”

“I ask all of you here at the U.N. to lend us your strength so that those doors are flung open and an air of peace can suffuse the Korean Peninsula,” she said.

It was the second straight year that Park has asked the international community to support the nation’s bid for unification in a speech at the U.N. General Assembly. North Korea has sensitively reacted to any comment from Park regarding unification during her presidency.

Park said that a unified Korea will be a starting point for a world without nuclear weapons and offer a fundamental solution to the North Korean human rights issue, fulfilling the U.N.’s founding spirit.

“A unified Korean Peninsula, both as a symbol of peace in our global village and a new engine of growth, will contribute greatly to peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia and beyond,” she said.

“I hope that the U.N. and all peace-loving countries will work together so that the ideals of peace and human dignity dreamed of by the U.N. founders 70 years ago can also be fulfilled through the unification of the Korean Peninsula.”

Park’s appeal came after her “unification initiatives” finally showed signs of progress.

Earlier this month, Park said after meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping that South Korea will begin talks with China about how to achieve peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula as early as possible.

In addition, during her four-day trip to the U.N., she has sought consensus on a vision for unification by meeting with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, international leaders and heads of New York-based think tanks.

Call for scrapping nuclear ambitions

While promoting her vision for unification, Park also urged North Korea to stop test-firing long-range missiles and open up its reclusive regime.

The Kim Jong-un regime is widely expected to test a missile around Oct. 10 -- the foundation day of its ruling Workers’ Party.

“This will not only do harm to the hard-won mood for inter-Korean dialogue, but also undermine the efforts of the members of the six-party talks to reopen denuclearization talks,” she said.

“The North would do well to choose reform and opening up rather than pursue additional provocations and endeavor to free its people from hardship.”

She also promised to provide economic support in exchange for Pyongyang’s abandonment of its nuclear program.

“Should the North boldly give up its nuclear ambitions and choose a path towards openness and cooperation, South Korea will work with the international community to actively support North Korea in developing its economy and improving the quality of life of its people,” Park said.

The President called on the North “to heed the concerns of the international community and start improving the state of human rights.”

The U.N. took a critical and symbolic step on the issue as the General Assembly adopted a landmark resolution in December that calls for the U.N. Security Council to refer the North’s situation to the International Criminal Court.

The President also touched on the issue of comfort women, who were forced to provide sex for Japanese soldiers during World War II, urging Japan to take quick measures in order to resolve the issue.

“The international community should do justice to the occasion by paying greater attention to sexual violence against women in conflict situations,” Park said.

The Japanese government has attempted to whitewash its wartime aggression, including sexual slavery -- the number of victims still alive has decreased to 47 from more than 120.

“There is no path to unlocking the future, if the past is not acknowledged,” she concluded.