'Denuclearized Korea to offer new opportunities,' says Pres. Park

'Denuclearized Korea to offer new opportunities,' says Pres. Park. October. 06, 2016 07:24. by 장택동 기자will71@donga.com. In a speech delivered on Wednesday, President Park Geun-hye said, “When North Korean nuclear threats disappear and a door to peaceful unification opens, new opportunities for happiness and prosperity will arise not only for us living on the Korean Peninsula but also for 7.2 million overseas Korean compatriots around the world.”

In the opening ceremony of the 10th World Korean Day and the 2016 World Korean Community Leaders Convention held at Lotte Hotel World in Seoul, President Park stated, “The government will tighten security measures against North Korean provocations, as well as make endless efforts to bring a peaceful unification at the same time,” while urging compatriots to promote our North Korea and unification policies as civil diplomats representing Korea.

After introducing Ms. Ahn Soo-san (first daughter of the Korean independence fighter Ahn Chang-ho) who devoted her life in developing the Korean community in the U.S. as the first Asian Naval officer, President Park also expressed her gratitude, saying, “I am proud of our compatriots who follow the path of Ms. Ahn and devote themselves in promoting their homeland and respective communities.”

President Park also encouraged the audience to overcome the current economic and security crisis with self-respect and pride. “All eyes are on Korea at the current time, but it is ironic that Koreans themselves are not aware of the attention they are receiving around the world,” she said, quoting an article written by Professor Emanuel Pastreich of Kyung Hee University. “Based on the ‘can-do’ spirit,' we will indeed overcome such crisis by concerting our efforts once again.”