Moon promises to build “unshakable nation”

Aug 16, 2019, 09:03 am

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President Moon Jae-in delivers a speech during a Liberation Day ceremony held at the Independence Hall of Korea in the central city of Cheonan on Aug. 15, 2019./ Source: Yonhap News

By AsiaToday reporter Hong Sun-mi

President Moon Jae-in promised on Thursday to build an “unshakable nation by reminding of the people who have demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of a series of crises.”

Moon made the remarks in his speech commemorating the 74th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japan’s colonial rule during a ceremony at the Independence Hall of Korea in the city of Cheonan.

“We have yet to become an unshakable nation. This is because we still lack sufficient strength and remain divided,” the president said.

“In the face of Japan’s unfair export restrictions, we will continue our march toward a responsible economic powerhouse,” he said.

“The path that allows us to overcome division and move toward peace and unification will be the shortcut to becoming a responsible economic power. This is the road to overtaking Japan and guiding it toward a cooperative order in East Asia,” Moon said.

He expressed his strong will to make Japan’s recent economic retaliation as an opportunity to improve the overall structure of the Korean economy.

He also presented a blueprint that a peace economy must be established in order to build an unshakable nation.

To build an unshakable nation, Moon laid out three major visions – the establishment of an economic powerhouse, a country that serves as a bridge, and a peace economy.

“As a responsible economic powerhouse, we aim to uphold the free trade order and facilitate equitable cooperation in East Asia,” Moon said. “When we retain a firm grip on our economic sovereignty, we will be able to stand firm as the owner of our own destiny.”

“We aim to build a country that serves as a bridge by taking the lead in promoting peace and prosperity on the continent and out in the ocean. If we build a strong nation, we will be able to play a leading role in upholding peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia, connecting the continent with the ocean,” he said.

“We aim to establish a peace economy where prosperity is achieved through peace and also complete our liberation through the unification of the Peninsula. The peace economy begins with the efforts to continue dialogue and cooperation so that North Korea can choose economic prosperity over nuclear program upon the foundation of complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” Moon said.

The president revealed that he is open to dialogue with Japan, saying, “If Japan chooses the path of dialogue and cooperation, we will gladly join hands.”

Moon also urged North Korea to resolve differences through dialogue, saying, “If there is dissatisfaction, it should be raised and discussed at the negotiating table.”

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