[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger stated on the 3rd that regarding the strategic development of the Korea-U.S. alliance, “The partnership between Korea and the United States will be even more important in the future, so we must work together to solve various issues.”
Former Secretary Kissinger said in a video congratulatory message at the international symposium “Beyond 140 Years of Korea-U.S. Relations” held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Hannam-dong, Seoul, on the morning of the same day, “Korea and the U.S. face common challenges in various fields such as climate change, pandemics, regional power struggles, advanced technology management, and artificial intelligence.”
(Photo by AP Yonhap News)
The Asan Institute for Policy Studies, together with the U.S. Embassy in Korea, hosted the international symposium “Beyond 140 Years of Korea-U.S. Relations” to commemorate the 140th anniversary of Korea-U.S. diplomatic relations.
Former Secretary Kissinger was a figure who exerted tremendous influence on U.S. diplomacy in the 1970s and is regarded as a scholar and an outstanding diplomatic strategist of the Cold War era. Born in 1923, he is 99 years old this year.
Regarding the history of the Korea-U.S. alliance, former Secretary Kissinger emphasized, “After the Korean Peninsula was divided following World War II, Korea and the United States worked together to prevent the communist takeover of the Korean Peninsula by North Korea,” and “Through the Korea-U.S. alliance, Korea built a strong military force and grew from one of the poorest countries in the world to a member of the G-20.”
He added, “Korea and the United States have cooperated in various fields such as politics, economy, and culture.”
Dr. Kissinger cited his connection with Chung Mong-joon, Honorary Chairman of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, emphasizing, “Through the sharing of knowledge and values between Korea and the United States, Korea has become one of the most dynamic countries in the world.”
Meanwhile, Honorary Chairman Chung stated in his welcoming remarks, “The recent situation around the Korean Peninsula is very similar to that of 140 years ago, and the movements of neighboring countries such as China and Russia are causing concern, so we must seriously consider who our true ‘friends’ are.”
Honorary Chairman Chung said, “Based on the Korea-U.S. ‘comprehensive strategic alliance’ grounded in liberal democracy, it is necessary to strive to improve relations with China and Japan,” and added, “We should look back on the history of friendship, trust, and cooperation between Korea and the U.S. that has continued since the signing of the ‘Treaty of Peace, Amity, Commerce, and Navigation’ in Jemulpo on May 22, 1882, and the Korea-U.S. alliance must continuously develop toward the future.”
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