S.Korean President Addresses US Congress, Stresses Strong Alliance

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has addressed a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress and was warmly received by both Democratic and Republican members of the House and the Senate. He stressed the strong economic ties the two countries share and the mutual defense alliance they forged 58 years ago to the day Thursday.

Republican House Speaker John Boehner introduced South Korean President Lee to a full chamber of enthusiastic lawmakers.

"Members of Congress, I have the high privilege and the distinct honor of presenting to you His Excellency Lee Myung Bak, President of the Republic of Korea," said Boehner.

The South Korean president was quick to thank both houses of Congress for passing a major trade agreement with South Korea Wednesday night, in a rare display of bipartisanship. He spoke through an interpreter.

"And I am particularly grateful to the leadership of both parties, and to all the esteemed members of Congress for their support in ratifying the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement last night, in a swift manner, in a swift manner that I am told is quite unprecedented," said Lee.

Congress also passed free trade agreements with Colombia and Panama that had been negotiated five years ago. President Lee cited experts he said predict that U.S. economic output will grow more from the free trade agreement with South Korea than with Americas' last nine free trade agreements combined.

The South Korean leader got a standing ovation when he thanked all those U.S. servicemen currently serving in South Korea, as well as all the veterans of the Korean War, including several current members of Congress.

Earlier in the day, Lee held a joint news conference with President Barack Obama, and both leaders agreed that they remain united in their approach to Communist North Korea. Lee said a united Korea would be a threat to no one.

"We therefore must achieve the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. [Applause] And North Korea must give up their nuclear ambitions."

Lee spoke about his two siblings who died as children in the Korean War, and about the fact that he was imprisoned for his political activities for democracy in the 1960's. Over and over again, he stressed that South Korea and the United States share the same democratic ideals and aspirations for peace and stability.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• peace
• congress
• stress
• strong alliance
• Lee myung bak
• Obama
• address
• democratic
• korea
• free
• nuclear

[SpicyHam]

That guy is a traitor of Korean culture, let along the Asian lineage and bloodline. He is a sellout, opening doors to foreign barbaric corporations. Settling down to unfavourable signings with foreign powers. Wake up Koreans, and start self-ruling!

- a message from friend of Korean ancestors.

[TheTollundWoman]

@Wolfovicz

Lee Myung Bak is a man of conscience and principle...unlike the leftists who want to appease the dictatorship in the north and abandon refugees.

[dokdoish]

@dhksrksalem he's a decent and a competent president, don't say something like that, shame on you!

[dhksrksalem]

@JYC987654321 many south korean hate president lee....he's currupt man

[Wolfovicz]

@JYC987654321 At least he did something decent. Lee Myung-bak is fairly corrupt.

[cmysubscriptions]

@Ninomyth2 neither -_-

[JYC987654321]

I respect the Korean president. He literaly illegalized abortion in Korea. Although there are abortions committed illegaly in Korea, but due to the new law it dimimished tremendously. Korea used to be second to US in abortion but not anymore. I hope I'll see the same results in the US someday.

[Ninomyth2]

Did he say that please make South Korea as a province of USA? or colony.

[classictutor]

May the U.S. and Korea go forward together as true friends as long as two nations remain free on earth. The alliance that was forged in blood has grown and now has taken the next step up to a whole new level.

[singularku]

영어로 안하고 한국어로 하네? 듣기는 편하다ㅋㅋㅋ