PR. IMiE EST-ABlA TER
FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF SPEECH GIVEN BY PRIME MINISTER AT
PRESIDENT CHUN'S DINNER ON 6 FEBRUARY 1984.
,4R PRESIDENT, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS,
IT GIVES ME GREAT SATISFACTION TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THIS, MY
FIRST VISIT TO THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA.
THE TRAGEDY IN RANGOON WHICH PREVENTED YOUR INTENDED VISIT LAST
YEAR TO AUSTRALIA CONTRIBUTED TO MY DECISION TO COME HERE NOW. I
COMMUNICATED TO YOU AT THE TIME AUSTRALIA'S SYMPATHY ON YOUR LOSSES
AND OUR REVULSION AT THE BOMBING OUTRACE. YOU WILL ALSO BE AWARE OF
THE SUBSEQUENT ACTIONS MY GOVERNMENT TOOK IN RESPONSE.
THE BOMBING, AND THE KOREAN AIRLINES INCIDENT A MONTH EARLIER,
BROUGHT HOME TO THE WORLD THE FRAGILITY OF THE SECURITY SITUATION IN
YOUR REGION, AND THE NEED FOR US ALL TO CONSIDER WtAYS OF REDUCING THE
TENSIONS THAT EXIST HERE.
IN THE 35 YEARS SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA IN
1948, AUSTRALIAN SUPPORT FOR THE ROK HAS BEEN CONSISTENT AND
PRINCIPLED.
WHEN, IN 1950, WE CONTRIBUTED FORCES TO THE UNITED NATIONS COMMAND IN
KOREA, W1E DID SO OUT OF A FIRM RESOLVE TO SUPPPORT YOUR SOVIEREIGN
RIGHTS. IT IS A MATTER OF SATISFACTION THAT THE 1953 ARMISTICE HAS PROOVED
EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING A RESUMPTION OF WAR ON THE PENINSULA.
VIOLENT INCIDENTS NEVERTHELESS PERSIST AND UNDERLINE NOT ONLY THE
NEED FOR FLEXIBILITY AND GOOD FAITH AMONG THE PARTIES, BUT ALSO THE
NEED FOR RENUNCIATION OF FORCE AS A MEANS OF DETERMINING POSITIONS.
THE REALITY, WH. ICH AUSTRALIA HAS RECOGNISED FOR MANY YEARS, IS THAT
THERE EXIST ON THE PENINSULA TWO STATES AND TlWO GOVERNMENTS. BOTH
GOVERNMENTS ARE KOREAN, THE PEOPLE ARE OF THE SAME STOCK AND SPEAK
THE SAME LANGUAGE. BUT THERE ARE PROFOUND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE
TWO SOCIETIES IN THEIR POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT.
RECONCILIATION OF DIFFERENCES IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES IS OBVIOUSLY
EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT.
CONTINUED STABLE POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT HERE IN THE
ROK IS OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT.
WE WISH YOU SUCCESS IN YOUR EFFORTS, AND, MR PRESIDENT
LOOK FORWARD TO THE TIME 1' HEN THE DIVERSITY OF POLOTICAL
OPINION IN THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA MAY FIND FULLER
EXPRESSION IN YOUR POLITICAL SYSTEII.
IHERE HAS BEEN A WARMTH AND AFFECTION IN OUR RELATIONSHIP
WHICH HAS DERI'ED FOM OUR ASSOCIAlION IN WAR, THE
CLOSE LINkS " HICH DEVELO') ED BETWEEN THE CHRISTIAN
CHlUi'CHES OF AUSTRLIA AND KOREA, AND THE INTEREST AND
SUPPORT WHICH AUSTRALIA HAS FELT FOR THE KOREAN PEOPLE
IN THEIR EFFORTS TO BUILD IN THE KOREAN PENINSULA A SOCIETY
BASED ON SOUND AND STABLE FOUNDATIONS.
MR PRESIDENT,
GIVEN THE ARRAY AND CHARACTER OF DPRK FORCES DIRECTED AGAINST YOU,
AUSTRALIA UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR CONCERN AND VIGILANCE.
WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY SUPPORTED THE KEY ELEMENTS IN THE REPUBLIC
OF KOREA'S NEGOTIATING POSITION, BECAUSE IT ACKNOWLEDGES THE
EXISTENCE OF THE DPRK AND IT EMBODIES A READINESS FOR GOVERNIMENTTO-
GOVERNMENT DISCUSSIONS.
THE APPROACH FOLLOWED IN THE PAST BY THE DPRK OF REJECTING THE
LEGITIMACY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA IS TOTALLY UNREALISTIC.
WE HAVE BEEN SHOCKED AND DISMAYED BY THL-DPRK'S UNCONSCIONABLE
OVERSEAS ACTIVITIES.
WE HAVE INFORMED THE DPRK THAT UNTIL IT SHOWS THAT IT 1: PREPARED TO
ABIDE BY INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTED STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOUR, WE WILL BE
UNABLE TO CONSIDER ANY PROPOSAL FOR A RESTORATION OF ITS RELATIONSHIP
WITH AUSTRALIA.
NEVERTHELESS, WE LOOK FORWARD TO A TIME I. 4HEW, TO THE ADVANTAGE OF THE
WHOLE REGION AS WELL AS FOR THE WELL-BEING OF ALL KOREANS, THE DPRK
CAN ENTER INTO A PRACTICAL AND SENSIBLE RELATIONSHIP WITH US ALL:
INCLUDING YOUR GOVERNMENT.
WE HOPE THAT THE FIRMNESS AND STEADINESS W4ITH WHICH YOUR GOVERNMENT
HAS. RESPONDED TO RECENT CRISES, AND THE BROAD INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT
YOU HAVE RECEIVED, WILL CONVINCE THE DPRK OF THE FUTILITY OF ITS
NEGATIVE APPROACH, AaID ENCOURAGE IT TO NEGOTIAT2 ON AN EQUAL BASIS
WITH YOU.
THERE HAVE BEEN RECENT INDICATIONS OF A DISPOSITION ON THE SIDE OF
THE DPRK TO CONSIDER NEGOTIATIONS ONCE AGAIN. AUSTRALIA HAS FOLLOWED
THESE DEVELOPMENTS WITH INTEREST. WE HAVE DONE SO, NOT AS A COUNTRY
WITH INTERESTS DIRECTLY ENGAGED IN THE KOREAN PENINSULA, BUT AS ONE
STRONGLY IINDFUL OF THE RISKS POSED TO REGIONAL PEACE AND STABILITY
BY CONTINUED TENSION AND CONFLICT BETWEEN THE PROTAGONISTS. THERE
ARE CLEARLY MANY QUESTIONS TO BE RESOLVED, BUT W,. E W OULD HOPE THAT A
IAY COULD BE FOUND BY WHICH BOTH THE DPRK AND THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA
MIGHT BE ABLE TO COMMENCE FACE TO FACE NEGOTIATIONS.
UNTIL THIS HAPPENS WE ARE DOUBTFUL THERE CAN BE ANY REAL PROGRESS.
MR PRESIDENT,
THE SITUATION" l ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA HAS A BROADER DIMENSION. IN
THE PAST, BECAUSE A RANGE OF GREAT POWER INTERESTS ARE ENGAGED, IT
HAS CONTRIBUTED TO TENSIONS BETWEEN THE SUPERPOWERS.
THIS GIVES FURTHER URGENCY TO THE NEED FOR RESOIUTION OF THE
SO-CALLED '' KOREAN PROBLEM'
IN SAYING THIS I AM PARTICULARLY MINDFUL THAT WE HAVE RETURNED TO AN
ERA OF DISTRUST AND SUSPICION BETWEEN THE SUPERPOWERS.
ARMS CONTROL AND DISARMAMENT NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE SUPERPOWERS
HAVE STALLED: THE BASIS FOR CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THEM HAS BEEN
SIGNIFICANTLY ERODED AND THE NUMCER OF CHANNELS FOR COMMUNICATION AND
DIALOGUE SEEM TO HAVE NARROWED SIGNIFICANTLY.
PRESIDENT REAGAN'S RECENT ATTEMPT TO FREE THE SITUATION UP AND TO
INDICATE POSSIBLE AVENUES FOR CO-CPERATION REFLECTED NOT ONLY AN
APPRECIATION OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE POSITION NOW EXISTING BETWEEN
THE SUPER-POWERS, BUT ALSO A GENUINE INTEREST IN COMING TO GRIPS WITH
THE UNDERLYING ISSUES AT STAKE.
HIS INITIATIVE DESERVES A MORE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED AND CONSTRUCTIVE
RESPONSE THAN THAT INITIALLY GIVEN BY THE SOVIET UNION.
THE ISSUES INVOLVED, PARTICULARLY IN THE FIELD OF ARMS CONTROL AND
DISARMAMENT, ARE SO LARGE THAT 10 TURN ONE'S FACE AGAINST EVEN THE
SLIGHTEST HINT OF PROGRESS WOULD BE A BETRAYAL NOT ONLY OF THE
COUNTLESS MILLIONS WHO ARE WITHOUT POWER TO INFLUENCE WORLD AFFAIRS
DIRECTLY, BUT OF UNBORN GENERATIONS WHOSE FUTURE ALL NATIONS HOLD IN
TRUST. YOUR PEOPLE, MR PRESIDENT, KNOW ONLY TOO WELL THE DEVASTATION OF WAR.
PERHAPS MORE THAN MOST COUNTRIES YOURS WOULD APPRECIATE THAT
GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE WORLD MUST ACCEPT THE OBLIGATION TO WORK
INDIVIDUALLY AND IOGETHER FOR A REDUCTION IN THE STOCKPILES OF
WEAPONRY WHICH PLACE INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AT RISK. NUCLEAR WEAPONS
STATES ALONE DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO DETERMINE THESE ISSUES. THEIR
CALCULATIONS THEIR MISCALCULATIONS COULD AFFECT US ALL OR
ELIMINATE US ALL.
AUSTRALIA IS VERY MINDFUL THAT AS A CONSEQUENCE OF OUR SECURITY
ARRANGMENTS UNDER ANZUS, JOINT AUSTRALIA/ UNITED STATES FACILITIES ARE
PRESENT ON AUSTRALIAN SOIL. THESE PLAY A POSITIVE ROLE IN
MAINTAINING WESTERN SECURITY. THEY ALSO MAKE A USEFUL CONTRIBUTION
TO THE VERIFICATION OF ARMS CONTROL AND DISARMAMENT AGREEMENTS.
MORE GENERALY MY GOVERNMENT HAS MOVED RAPIDLY TO ESTABLISH OUR
INTEREST IN THE SUPPORT FOR BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS
FOR DISARMAMENT.
WE ARE WORKING FOR THE REVITALISATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL
NON-PROLIFERATION REGIME AND FOR THE CREATION OF AN INTERNATIONAL
CLIMATE THAT COULD LEAD TO AGREEMENT ON A COMPREHENSIVE AND FULLY
VERIFIABLE BAN ON NUCLEAR TESTING.
WE RECOGNISE THAT THERE IS NO FOOL-PROOF MIEANS OF PREVENTING THE
PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR EXPLOSIVES, BUT AUSIALIA IS AMONG THOSE WHO
BELIEVE THAT THE PROCESS CAN AND SHOULD BE SLOWED AND THE COSTS TO
THE PROLIFERATOR INCREASED.
AS A PRODUCER AND EXPORTER OF URANIUM WE RECOGNISE OUR OBLIGATIONS
UNDER NPT ARTICLE IV TO FACILITATE AND PARTICIPAlE IN THE EXCHANGE OF
EQUIPMENT, MATERIALS AND INFORMATION FO THE PEACEFUL USES DF ATOMIC
ENERGY, WITH DUE CONSIDERATION FOR THE NEEDS OF THE DEVELOPING AREAS
OF THE WORLD. IN LINE WITH THIS, AUSTRALIA ALSO ACCEPTS THAT IT HAS
A PARTICULAR RESPONSIBILITY TO SECURE IMPROVED INTERNATIONAL
SAFEGUARDS AGAINST DIVERSION OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL FOR PEACEFUL USES.
WE ARE OF THE STRONG VIEW THAT ANY EAST/ WEST AGREEMENTS TO LIMIT
DEPLOYMENT OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS MUST BE GLOBAL IN NATURE.
THE TENSIONS CREATED IN THE ASIA/ PACIFIC REGION AS A RESULT OF TH4E
SOVIET DEPLOYMENT OF $ 520' 5 IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE USSR PRESENT A
THREAT TO US ALL.
PRESIDENT CHUN: IN SPITE OF THE TENSIONS AND THREATS OF WAR TO WHICH
YOUR NATION IS EXPOSED, THE PEOPLE OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA, YOUR
GOVERNMENT AND THAT OF YOUR PREDECESSOR HAVE BUILT A REMARKABLE
MODERN NATION-: TATE.
WE PAY TRIBUTE TO THAT.
MR PRESIDENT,
DESPITE THE OBVIOUS DIFFERENCES BETWEEN OUR TWO SOCIETIES, THE MOST
INSISTENT ELEMENTS IN THE RELATIONSHIP TODAY ARE THOSE WHICH DRAW US
TOGETHER. ECONOMICALLY# WE ARE ALREADY VERY IMPORTANT TO EACH OTHER.
POLITICALLY, TH4E ROK IS BEGINNING TO HAVE A P. EGIONAL ROLE MORE
APPROPRIATE TO ITS POPULATION AND ECONOMIC STRENGTH.
AS YOUR ECONOMY HAS DEVELOPED, THROUGH THE A. PPLICATION OF IMAGINATIVE
GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION, DARING ENTERPRENEURSHIP AND THE EFFORTS OF
YOUR INDUSTRIOUS AND SKILLED PEOPLE, IT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY
APPARENT THAT WE HAVE MUCH TO OFFER EACH OTHER.
AUSTRALIA'S VAST'INERAL RESOURCES, DEVELOPED INFRASTRUCTURE AND
COMPARATIVE NEARNESS TO YOU HAVE MADE AUSTRALIA A COMPETITIVE AND
FUNDAMENTALLY RELIABLE SUPPLIER OF RAW MATERIALS OF KOREA'S RAPIDLY
EXPANDING INDUSTRIES.
AUSTRALIA HAS ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE RISE IN YOUR LIVING STANDARDS
BY ITS EXPORTS OF COMPETITIVE AND NIGH QUALITY AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.
IN RETURN, KOREAN EXPORTS TO AUSTRALIA OF MAINUFACTURED GOODS HAVE
ENHANCED OUR STANDARDS OF LIVING ALSO.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO A CONTINUATION AND EXPANSION OF THIS
MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIP.
INDEED, I SHOULD EXPECT THAT THE OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED BY MUTUAL
LIBERALISATION OF TRADING ARRANGMENTS BETI. WEEN US IN THE COURSE OF
ECONOMIC GRO'. THI WILL BE CONSIDERABLE.
MR PRESTDENT: WE WELCOME THE ROK ' S READINESS TO TAKE A BROADER
INTEREST IN THL AFFAIRS OF TI'E ASIA/ PACIFIC REGION.
THE REGION AS IT AFFECTS YOUR COUNTRY HAS CHANGED AND DEVELOPED.
THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA IS NOW A SUBSTANTIAL POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC
PARTNER IN THE REGION, A FACT RECOGNISED AND APPRECIATED BY MOST
OTHER REGIONAL STATES.
AUSTRALIA'S FOREIGN POLICY HAS ALSO INCREASINGLY BEEN STRUCTURED
TOARDS DEVELOPING A FULL, PROPER AND EQUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR
NEIGHBOURS. WE ENJOY SUBSTANTIAL TIES WITH THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE.
BUT OUR TRADING AND POLITICAL INTERESTS HAVE SEEN THE EMERGENCE OF
CLOSE AND IMPORTANT LINKS BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND THE ASEAN COUNTRIES,
AS WELL AS WITH CHINA, JAPAN AND THE NEWLY-INDEPENDENT COUNTRIES OF
THE PACIFIC.
AUSTRALIA NOW HAS A NELL-ESTABLISHED ROLE IN THE REGION.
IT IS A ROLE WHICH, IN ASIA, REFLECTS NOT ONLY THE EMERGENCE OF
EXTENSIVE AND GROWING ECONOMIC LINKS BUT ALSO A GROWINL; SENSE OF THE
POLITICAL AS WELL ELL AS ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO BE DERIVED FROM
CO-OPERATIVE RELATIONS BETW4EEN AUSTRALIA AND COUNTRIES OF THE REGION.
AUSTRALIA 14AS ALSO SOUGHT TO PLAY A SUPPORTIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE PART
IN SOUTH PACIFIC AFFAIRS WITHOUT INTRUDING UPON THE SOVEREIGNTY OF
OTHER STATES.
THE DEVELOPMENT NEEDS OF THE PACIFIC WILL COMMAND OUR CONTINUING
ATTENTION. THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION, IS THE PART OF THE WORLD WITH THE GREATEST
POTENTIAL FOR ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND POLITICAL GROWTH.
WE NEED TO CONSIDER CAREFULLY HOW WE MIGHT BEST MOVE TO ENSURE
THAT POTENTIAL IS FULLY REALIZED.
I KNOW, MR PRESIDENT, THIS IS A MATTER YOU HAVE GIVEN YOUR PARTICULAR
ATTENTION. I AM ALSO AWARE THERE HAS BEEN CONSIDERABLE INTEREST IN SOME CIRCLES,
IN THE PROSPECTS FOR A PACIFIC COMMUNITY.
WE DON'T SEE THIS AS SOMETHING FOR THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE IF
A RANGE OF FORMAL MECHANISMS AND
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE COUNTRIES OF THE REGION, IS ENVISATED.
INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE RECENTLY IN BALI
NONETHELESS HAVE HIGHLIGHTED SOME POTENTIALLY PRODUCTIVE THEMES OF
CO-OPERATION WHICH COULD USEFULLY BE EXPLORED FURTHER.
THE PROPOSED PACIFIC ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION CONFERENCE IN SEOUL IN
1985, AS A FOLLO;.'-UP TO THE BALI MEETING, SHOULD BE OF PRACTICAL
ASSISTANCE IN CARRYING THESE MATTERS FORWARD.
-MORE IMMEDIATELY THE SUGGESTION I PUT FORWARD iN BANGKOK LAST
NOVEMBER THAT THERE WOULD BE ADVANFAGE I I REGIONAL CONSULTATION AND
CO-OPERATION IN T'E LEAD-UP TO A NEW OLOBAL TlADE ROUND SHOULD SUCH
A ROUND HATERIALISE OFFERS AN IMMEDIATELY VALUABLE MEANS OF
SECURING ATTENTION TO THE PARTICULAR TRADING INTERESTS OF COUNTRIES
OF THE ASIA/ PACIFIC REGION.
MR PRESIDENT,
THE OPPORTUNITY AFFORDED BY MY VISIT FOR BROAD DISCUSSIONS OF THESE
MATTERS OF 11UTUAL INTEREST HAS BEEN GREATLY APPRECIATED.
I KNOW4 THAT THE PERSON1AL TIES WE HAVE FORGED WILL CONTRIBUTE
TO THE FURTHER GROWTH OF RELATIONS BETWEEN OUR TWO NATIONS.
I HOPE THAT W4E WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY BEFORE LONG TO CONTINUE
THESE DISCUSSIONS IN AUSTRALIA.
TOAST DISTINGUISHED GUESTS,
PLEASE JOIN HE IN A TOAST TO THE HEALTH AND WELL-GEING OF
HIS EXCELLENCY CHUN DGO-HWAN, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF
KOREA AND TO THE FUTURE OF RELATIONS BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND
THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA.