Attention heaped on Trump's Wednesday speech at Assembly

By Kim Hyo-jin

U.S. President Donald Trump plans to deliver a speech at the National Assembly, Wednesday, with much attention on what message he will give to the Korean people.

His parliamentary speech will mark the first by a U.S. President in 24 years since former President Bill Clinton delivered one in 1993. And it is the only such speech scheduled during Trump’s 12-day visit to five Asian countries.

The previous speeches of six former U.S. presidents were mainly about introducing their Asia policy and reaffirming the South Korea-U.S. alliance.

Trump is expected to follow suit, but may focus on seeking understanding on the U.S. move to re-negotiate terms for the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement. He could also highlight the significance of tripartite coordination between South Korea, the U.S. and Japan in response to North Korea’s nuclear and missile provocations.

Dwight D. Eisenhower, the first U.S. President who made a parliamentary speech on June 20, 1960, mainly offered encouragement to the South Korean people, acknowledging their struggle to rehabilitate the war-torn nation following the 1950-1953 Korean War.

He also reaffirmed the “pledge of full American support” to the country, stressing U.S. commitments under the Mutual Defense Treaty.

Lyndon B. Johnson put much stress on sending an ideological message during his speech, Nov. 22, 1966, during the Vietnamese War. He voiced his resolve to defend the spread of “communist aggression” and secure peace in Asia, vowing to stay resolute in the ongoing war until victory.

Ronald Reagan, who took the podium at the legislature on Nov. 12, 1983, touted the value of free trade and asked South Korea to be on the U.S. side in rejecting protectionism.

He also did not forget to reassure Koreans about the U.S. commitment to maintain security on the peninsula, noting it was the 30th anniversary of the Mutual Defense Treaty.

George Bush made parliamentary speeches twice on Feb. 27, 1989, and Jan. 6, 1992.

In the first speech, he underlined he had no plans to reduce U.S. forces in Korea, promoting its presence contributes to the peace and stability of the country.

Stressing the need to engage in active diplomacy with the North as a supplementary means of deterrence, Bush said he supported then South Korean President Roh Tae-woo’s initiatives to reconcile with Pyongyang.

“I will work closely with the President to coordinate our efforts to draw the North toward practical, peaceful, and productive dialogue to ensure that our policies are complementary and mutually reinforcing,” he said.

His second speech called on South Korea’s active role in the world economy and peace as a U.S. ally, claiming the bilateral relations were elevated to a new level.

“What began in the heat of war as a military alliance has grown into a broader relationship anchored in shared economic interest and common political ideals,” he said.

The latest speaker Bill Clinton spoke at the Assembly, July 10, 1993. Elaborating the North’s missile threat, he was an advocate for better security in the pacific region by building a new Pacific community, deterring the spread of weapons of mass destruction and opening new regional security dialogues.

He also urged Pyongyang to clarify its commitment to the Nonproliferation Treaty, fulfilling obligations to IAEA inspections of undeclared nuclear sites.

Trump will speak for 22 minutes to 550 people including 299 legislators, foreign diplomats, and guests invited by the U.S. government, an Assembly source said.

He will be accompanied by his aides ― Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, National Security Adviser H. R. McMaster and Chief of Staff John Kelly.

He is expected to meet National Assembly speaker Chung Sye-kyun and party leaders during a 10-minute meeting prior to the speech.

After the speech, Trump will visit the National Cemetery in Seoul to pay his respects to fallen soldiers and then fly to Beijing.