Showing posts with label SOUTH KOREA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SOUTH KOREA. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

S. KOREA ROBOT WINS FIRST PRIZE AT DARPA ROBOT FINALS

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT

Right:  Team Kaist’s robot DRC-Hubo uses a tool to cut a hole in a wall during the DARPA Robotics Challenge Finals, June 5-6, 2015, in Pomona, Calif. Team Kaist won the top prize at the competition. DARPA photo
   
Robots from South Korea, U.S. Win DARPA Finals
By Cheryl Pellerin
DoD News, Defense Media Activity

POMONA, Calif., June 7, 2015 – A robot from South Korea took first prize and two American robots took second and third prizes here yesterday in the two-day robotic challenge finals held by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

Twenty-three human-robot teams participating in the DARPA Robotics Challenge, or DRC, finals competed for $3.5 million in prizes, working to get through eight tasks in an hour, under their own onboard power and with severely degraded communications between robot and operator.

A dozen U.S. teams and 11 from Japan, Germany, Italy, South Korea and Hong Kong competed in the outdoor competition.

DARPA launched the DRC in response to the nuclear disaster at Fukushima, Japan, in 2011 and the need for help to save lives in the toxic environment there.

Progress in Robotics

The DRC’s goal was to accelerate progress in robotics so robots more quickly can gain the dexterity and robustness they need to enter areas too dangerous for people and mitigate disaster impacts.

Robot tasks were relevant to disaster response -- driving alone, walking through rubble, tripping circuit breakers, using a tool to cut a hole in a wall, turning valves and climbing stairs.

Each team had two tries at the course with the best performance and times used as official scores. All three winners each had final scores of eight points, so they were arrayed from first to third place according to least time on the course.

DARPA program manager and DRC organizer Gill Pratt congratulated the 23 participating teams and thanked them for helping open a new era of human-robot partnerships.

Loving Robots

The DRC was open to the public, and more than 10,000 people over two days watched from the Fairplex grandstand as each robot ran its course. The venue was formerly known as the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds.

"These robots are big and made of lots of metal, and you might assume people seeing them would be filled with fear and anxiety," Pratt said during a press briefing at the end of day 2.

"But we heard groans of sympathy when those robots fell, and what did people do every time a robot scored a point? They cheered!” he added.

Pratt said this could be one of the biggest lessons from DRC -- “the potential for robots not only to perform technical tasks for us but to help connect people to one another."

South Korean Winning Team

Team Kaist from Daejeon, South Korea, and its robot DRC-Hubo took first place and the $2 million prize. Hubo comes from the words ‘humanoid robot.’

Team Kaist is from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, which professor JunHo Oh of the Mechanical Engineering Department called “the MIT of Korea,” and he led Team Kaist to victory here.

In his remarks at the DARPA press conference, Oh noted that researchers from a university commercial spinoff called Rainbow Co., built the Hubo robot hardware.

The professor said his team’s first-place prize doesn’t make DRC-Hubo the best robot in the world, but he’s happy with the prize, which he said helps demonstrate Korea’s technological capabilities.

Team IHMC Robotics

Coming in second with a $1 million prize is Team IHMC Robotics of Pensacola, Florida -- the Institute of Human and Machine Cognition -- and its robot Running Man.

Jerry Pratt leads a research group at IHMC that works to understand and model human gait and its applications in robotics, human assistive devices and man-machine interfaces.

“Robots are really coming a long way,” Pratt said.

“Are you going to see a lot more of them? It's hard to say when you'll really see humanoid robots in the world,” he added. “But I think this is the century of the humanoid robot. The real question is what decade? And the DRC will make that decade come maybe one decade sooner.”

Team Tartan Rescue

In third place is Team Tartan Rescue of Pittsburgh, winning $500,000. The robot is CHIMP, which stands for CMU highly intelligent mobile platform. Team members are from Carnegie Mellon University and the National Robotics Engineering Center.

Tony Stentz, NREC director, led Team Tartan Rescue, and during the press conference called the challenge “quite an experience.”

That experience was best captured, he said, “with our run yesterday when we had trouble all through the course, all kinds of problems, things we never saw before.”

While that was happening, Stentz said, the team operating the robot from another location kept their cool.

Promise for the Technology

“They figured out what was wrong, they tapped their deep experience in practicing with the machine, they tapped the tools available at their fingertips, and they managed to get CHIMP through the entire course, doing all of the tasks in less than an hour,” he added.

“That says a lot about the technology and it says a lot about the people,” Stentz said, “and I think it means that there's great promise for this technology.”

All the winners said they would put most of the prize money into robotics research and share a portion with their team members.

After the day 2 competition, Arati Prabhakar, DARPA director, said this is the end of the 3-year-long DARPA Robotics Challenge but “the beginning of a future in which robots can work alongside people to reduce the toll of disasters."

Sunday, May 24, 2015

SECRETARY KERRY'S REMARKS ON AN OPEN AND SECURE INTERNET

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
An Open and Secure Internet: We Must Have Both
Remarks
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Korea University
Seoul, South Korea
May 18, 2015

SECRETARY KERRY: (Applause.) Well, good afternoon, President Yeom. Thank you very much for a generous introduction. Distinguished guests, all, I’m delighted to be here and I want to thank the university, and particularly Park No-young, the Director of the Cyber Law Center, for inviting me to be here today. Thank you very, very much.

I also want to acknowledge somewhere – I don’t see him – but my friend, the ambassador from the United States of America – there he is right in front of me – Mark Lippert, who represents the United States here in Seoul. And he’s a special person. I’ve known him for a long time. He served in the United States Navy. He served in Afghanistan and served for the President, been an advisor to several presidents. But recently, as you all know, he displayed great grace and dignity under duress, and like all of our diplomats, whose jobs carry with them certain risks on the front lines of diplomacy, I will tell you that Mark has never wavered from his determination to do his job and to represent our country to the best of his ability – which, believe me, he does. So I’m grateful for his leadership. And, Mark, thank you for the great example you’re setting.

I’m really happy to be back here in Seoul. This is a beautiful city, and I’m struck every time I come here. I wish I had more time. Time is the enemy of those of us in diplomacy nowadays. But the United States and South Korea share a very special history, obviously, and we also share great hopes for the future. And I am very happy to be here to talk about our shared interests, though it will not just be, President Yeom, about the security; it will be about the internet itself, which is important as we think about security. It’s also, obviously, very critical as we think about the many interests that we share together, ranging from security on the Korean Peninsula, to the success of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, to the many connections that exist between the Korean and the American peoples – including, I want you to know, a love for Psy, K-Pop, bibimbap, and Pororo, the little penguin. (Laughter.) I want you to know that my staff recommended that I walk out here this afternoon, dancing to Gangnam Style – but I told them no, that’s too 2012.

Today, it’s really more than appropriate to be here in the most wired city in the country, one of the most wired cities in the world, in order to speak with you about digital technology and about the fears and the possibilities that we associate with digital technology. And let me underscore: It’s the possibilities that should motivate us, and it’s the possibilities that bring me here today.

Now, years ago, South Korea made a conscious choice to become a global IT leader and you have delivered. As a society, you opened the door to investment, you encouraged households to sign up for broadband, you eased the transition to new technology, and you developed programs in universities just like this one to educate young people in digital skills. And I applaud you for the remarkable linkage to the military and the security side of it with the offer that you make to students who will come here, learn, and then go on to serve the country in the military for those seven years.

Today, thanks in part to President Park’s commitment to build a, quote, “creative economy,” the ROK is a virtual synonym for Internet success stories, such as the educational network service ClassTing; or the Kakao, your messenger app which is one of the fastest-growing tech firms in all of Asia; and GRobotics, a company which has revolutionized the robot industry and, incredibly, it was originally conceived by an amazing 11-year-old child. Just two weeks ago, Ambassador Lippert joined President Park at the opening of the Google Campus for startups and entrepreneurs right here in Seoul – an initiative designed to spur the exchange of ideas and digital growth in both of our countries. Now, both of our nations know and view the internet and cyber issues as part of a new frontier for our governments and peoples, and it will be one of the key areas discussed when our two presidents meet in in Washington in June.

The fact is, whichever side of the Pacific Ocean we live on, the internet today is part of almost everything that we do. And just to tell you how amazing it is, I served in the United States Senate on the Commerce Committee in 1996. I was chairman of the Communications Subcommittee when we rewrote the communications law for our country. And guess what? Barely anybody in 1996 was talking about data, and data transformation, and data management. It was all about telephony – the telephone. That’s how far we’ve traveled in 20 years.

So it matters to all of us how the technology is used and how it’s governed. That is precisely why the United States considers the promotion of an open and secure internet to be a key component of our foreign policy. It’s why we want to work with you and with international partners everywhere in order to better understand the choices that we face in managing this extraordinary resource – a resource which does present us with certain challenges even as it presents us with unprecedented opportunities.

Now, what do I mean by that?

Well, to begin with, America believes – as I know you do – that the internet should be open and accessible to everyone. We believe it should be interoperable, so it can connect seamlessly across international borders. We believe people are entitled to the same rights of free expression online as they possess offline. We believe countries should work together to deter and respond effectively to online threats. And we believe digital policy should seek to fulfill the technology’s potential as a vehicle for global stability and sustained economic development; as an innovative way to enhance the transparency of governments and hold governments accountable; and also as a means for social empowerment that is also the most democratic form of public expression ever invented.

At its best, the internet is an equal-opportunity platform from which the voice of a student can have as much reach as that of a billionaire; a chief executive may be able to be out-debated by an entry-level employee – and there’s nothing wrong with that. Most users of the internet agree, on the internet as in any other venue, the human rights of every person – including freedom of expression – should be protected and respected. The United Nations has repeatedly affirmed this view, but as we know, it is still not universally held. That means that we will continue to have important choices to make – important choices to make locally, to make in universities, to make in businesses, to make in countries, and between countries. We will have a lot of choices about technology among and between nations.

Let me tell you something: How we choose begins with what we believe. And what we believe about the internet hinges to a great extent on how we feel, each and every one of us, about freedom.

Freedom. The United States believes strongly in freedom – in freedom of expression, freedom of association, freedom of choice. But particularly, this is important with respect to freedom of expression, and you believe in that freedom of expression here in Korea. We want that right for ourselves and we want that right for others even if we don’t agree always with the views that others express. We understand that freedom of expression is not a license to incite imminent violence. It’s not a license to commit fraud. It’s not a license to indulge in libel, or sexually exploit children. No. But we do know that some governments will use any excuse that they can find to silence their critics and that those governments have responded to the rise of the internet by stepping up their own efforts to control what people read, see, write, and say.

This is truly a point of separation in our era – now, in the 21st century. It’s a point of separation between governments that want the internet to serve their citizens and those who seek to use or restrict access to the internet in order to control their citizens.

Here in the Asia Pacific, we see countries such as the ROK and Japan that are among the world’s leaders in internet access, while North Korea is at the exact opposite end of that spectrum, with the lowest rate of access in the world and the most rigid and centralized control.

No other government is as extreme as the DPRK, but there are more than a few who want to harvest the economic benefits of the internet while nevertheless closing off the avenues of political, social, and religious expression. They impose filters that eliminate broad categories of what their citizens can see and receive and transmit – and with whom ideas may be changed and shared. What’s more, the governments that have pioneered the repressive use of such technologies are quick to export their tools and methods to others, and thereby further diminish individual rights. At the same time, some governments are using the internet to track down activists and journalists who write something that they don’t like, and even reach beyond their borders in order to intimidate their critics.

My friends, this discourages free expression and it clearly seems intended to turn their part of the internet into a graveyard for new ideas – the exact opposite of what it should be, a fertile field where such ideas can blossom and grow.

Let’s be clear: Every government has a responsibility to provide security for its citizens. Yes. We all agree with that. In the United States, our efforts to do so – and the reforms that we have undertaken in the process – have been guided by our concern for individual rights and our commitment to oversight and review. Further, unlike many, we have taken steps to respect and safeguard the privacy of the citizens of other countries and to use the information that we do collect solely to address the very specific threat to the United States and to our allies. We don’t use security concerns as an excuse to suppress criticisms of our policies or to give a competitive advantage to an American company and any commercial interests at all.

Now, regrettably, it is no coincidence that many of the governments that have a poor record on internet freedom also have a questionable commitment to human rights more generally. United States policy has always been to engage with such governments to encourage reforms and to point out the contributions to prosperity that would flow from a more open approach. Regimes that practice repression typically argue that they have no obligation to justify what they do inside their own borders, but that assertion is directly contradicted by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and by many other multilateral declarations and statements.

The fact is, an individual’s aspiration to be free may be the most single powerful force on Earth. It’s an aspiration that may be able to be slowed sometimes, maybe intimidated sometimes, it may even be eliminated temporarily by violence in certain cases. But I’m telling you its power within the human soul is so infectious that it will always resurface in one form or another, even in the most extraordinary circumstances.

And history – history has proven that again and again and again. Throughout history, we have seen that men and women will do whatever it takes to find a way to make their desire for freedom known. We saw that with the authors of the pamphlets that helped to spark the revolution that gave birth to my home country in the 1700s. We saw it with the dissidents writing newsletters and producing radio broadcasts behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War. And we see it today, in places all over the world, where young people are challenging injustice – armed only with their smart phones.

The internet is, among many other things, an instrument of freedom. It’s a tool people resort to in response to the absence and failure or abuse of government. So of course, some leaders are afraid of it. They’re afraid of the internet in the same way that their predecessors were afraid of newspapers, books, and the radio, but even more so because in this case, because of the interactivity that allows for a free-flowing discussion and the exchange of views – activities that can, and often do, lead to change.

I say to you today, here at Korea University, that fear is misplaced, and that response is, in the end, futile. Anyone who blames the internet for the disorder or turmoil in today’s world is just not using their head to connect the dots correctly. And banning the internet in a misguided attempt to impose order will never succeed in quashing the universal desire for freedom.

Ladies and gentlemen, repression does not eliminate the speech we hate. It just forces it into other avenues – avenues that often can become more dangerous than the speech itself that people are fighting. The remedy for the speech that we do not like is more speech. It’s the credible voices of real people that must not only be enabled, but they need to be amplified.

The good news is that much of the world understands this. More and more of the world understands this. And the advocates of internet freedom and openness are speaking up. The United States is part of the Freedom Online Coalition, a 26-country group that we are actively seeking to expand. The coalition argues that narrow and distorted visions of the internet cannot be allowed to prevail. Freedom must win out over censorship. That is an important principle, but it is also a practical imperative. After all, from the dawn of history to the present day, repression hasn’t invented a thing. Freedom is how jobs are created, diseases are cured, alternative energy is harnessed, and new ways are found to feed a global population that has quadrupled in the past century and that will rise to some 9 billion people in the next 40 to 50 years. Without freedom, civilization can’t advance; it’s like a bicycle without pedals.

Remember that the internet is not just another sector of our economy. Like electricity, it is a general purpose technology that is used in thousands of different ways, streamlining everything from buying a cup of coffee to building a skyscraper. Consider what would happen if someone tried to block the flow of electricity – the lights would go out and everything would stop. In fact, when I was a lot younger, Hollywood made a movie about exactly that; it was called “The Day the Earth Stood Still.” And thank heavens they made a couple more of them so you can’t tell exactly which one I’m referring to. (Laughter.) Now, you might want to watch it, because policies that restrict online data streams have a similar effect, if perhaps not quite so dramatic.

Think, for example, of what would take place if every country imposed data localization requirements, causing information to halt and to undergo inspection whenever it reached a national border. Imagine what would happen to commerce and to the flow of information, to the simple effort to get an answer to a question at a dinner table when you’re talking with people and you want to Google something. The delays would create huge obstacles to multinational business at a time when speed is of the essence and cross-border enterprises are major engines of growth. That’s not a formula for progress; it’s a way to stop progress in its tracks.

The internet provides broadly-shared connections that are essential for modern economies to be able to grow. It’s that simple. It can help people even in remote areas take advantage of government services and make a better business decision, for example. Let me give you an example. It could make a difference to people about when you bring your crops to the market or how do you find international customers for local projects.

With digital technology, fishermen in Mozambique can keep their catch fresh in the water until they have a buyer, somewhere in another continent maybe, thus eliminating spoilage and waste.

Shopkeepers in sub-Saharan Africa have seen their incomes actually grow by using mobile banking technology to avoid local loan sharks and go directly to reputable financial institutions for emergency credit and loans.

The system becomes more accountable and more transparent and more accessible. Women entrepreneurs in Southeast Asia have formed cooperatives online that enable them to take advantage of economies of scale.

Children from Angola to India are learning more and faster through education that comes to them over the internet.

And a couple of years ago, a young engineer from Cameroon developed a computer tablet called “Cardiopad” that enables Africans to be able to have a heart examination at home and receive the diagnosis from doctors who may be hundreds of miles away. Think about that.

The examples are endless, but you get the point. I know. The internet fuels innovation that can lead to improved efficiency, improved productivity in every sector of a developing economy.

But in thinking about the internet’s promise, you have to recognize how far that potential is from being fulfilled today. Roughly three out of every five people in the world today remain without internet access – and in the poorest countries that figure can top 95 percent.

A big part of the reason is simply cost. Ask yourself: How much of your family’s income do you pay for internet access? In America, the average is 1 or 2 percent. But a typical family in some countries have to pay 10 percent for entry-level mobile broadband and roughly four times that for fixed broadband. In other words, people with low incomes can’t afford digital access. They need to earn more money. To break that circle of despair, we need to bring the costs down by getting public policies right – because money isn’t the only barrier.

There’s a reason why access is relatively high in Colombia but low in Venezuela. There’s a reason why it’s high in Malaysia but low in Cambodia; a reason why it’s high in Rwanda but low in Ethiopia. Some governments do much more than others to facilitate access for people in poor or remote areas. And the starting point is for every country to have a clear and comprehensive national broadband plan that allows for private investment, encourages competition, removes bureaucratic obstacles, and takes full advantage of shared internet services at schools, libraries, community centers, and cafes.

That’s why two years ago the United States helped create the Alliance for Affordable Internet. This broad coalition draws on expertise from governments, the private sector, and civil society to assist policy makers in expanding access while keeping prices low. It’s the right goal, and I’ll tell you, it’s also a smart goal. According to one recent European study, tripling mobile broadband penetration levels across the developing world would provide a return of as much as $17 for every $1 spent.

About 10 days ago, when I was in Kenya, I Skyped, using the internet, with a group of young Somali refugees. Most of these refugees were high school or college age kids, and yet – and yet, extraordinarily, many of them had never, ever been outside that refugee camp – ever. This, in an era of incredible globalization – they had only lived in one refugee camp. The students I spoke to wanted desperately to be able to complete their schooling. They wanted to find a job. They wanted to go on to university. They wanted to begin a career. One young woman, who is studying chemistry and biology, told me she hoped to become a doctor. Now, I’m willing to bet you that she’s never been inside a hospital. But that’s what she wanted to do – become a doctor. The irony is that, at the refugee camp, they have internet connections. Now, I can’t help but wonder whether that will be the case when they return to Somalia.

If there is any message that is going to be sent to governments by young people in the world today, it is the desire – the universal desire – for jobs, for opportunity, for education, for a future. That’s what people want. It’s what every family in the world really wants. No one is asking to be censored. No one is yearning to be told what to think and how to live. The same desires that helped South Korea embrace democracy are what sparked the beginnings of the Arab Spring; they’re what kept the pro-democracy movement alive through two decades of dictatorship in Burma; and they’re what prompted the voters of Sri Lanka and Nigeria to flock to the polls in recent months and cast their ballots for change.

So looking to the future, we have to respond to this demand for openness and opportunity by making steady progress toward closing the digital divide. And with that goal in mind, the United States State Department will soon launch a new diplomatic initiative – in combination with partner countries, development banks, engineers, and industry leaders – and we’re going to do just that: try to make it more available. You may be sure that we will be inviting your government and other representatives from this highly-connected country to help us lead and guide this effort. Because this will define the future. And this is the way we’ll address violent extremism, and failing states.

So this brings me to another issue that should concern us all, and that is governance – because even a technology founded on freedom needs rules to be able to flourish and work properly. We understand that. Unlike many models of government that are basically top-down, the internet allows all stakeholders – the private sector, civil society, academics, engineers, and governments – to all have seats at the table. And this multi-stakeholder approach is embodied in a myriad of institutions that each day address internet issues and help digital technology to be able to function.

The versatility of the current approach enables it to move both with deliberation and care on complex issues and, frankly, much more rapidly on situations that demand a rapid response. For example, we saw the community respond to the 2007 cyberattacks in Estonia in a matter of hours. And as recently as last week, it responded literally in minutes to an unexpected outage of the Amsterdam exchange, which is the second-largest internet exchange point in the world.

That’s why we have to be wary of those who claim that the system is broken or who advocate replacing it with a more centralized arrangement – where governments would have a monopoly on the decision-making. That’s dangerous. Now, I don’t know what you think, but I am confident that if we were to ask any large group of internet users anywhere in the world what their preferences are, the option “leave everything to the government” would be at the absolute bottom of the list. Because of the dynamic nature of this technology, new issues are constantly on the horizon – but the multi-stakeholder approach remains the fairest and the best, most effective way to be able to resolve those challenges.

Now, as everyone knows, it’s impossible to talk about cyber policy without talking about international peace and security. You live this truth right here in South Korea, just as we do in the United States. Both of our countries have been hit by serious cyber-attacks from state and non-state actors. Worldwide, the risk and frequency of such attacks is on the increase.

America’s policy is to promote international cyber stability. The goal is to create a climate in which all states are able to enjoy the benefits of cyberspace; all have incentives to cooperate and avoid conflict; and all have good reason not to disrupt or attack one another. To achieve this, we are seeking a broad consensus on where to draw the line between responsible and irresponsible behavior.

As I’ve mentioned, the basic rules of international law apply in cyberspace. Acts of aggression are not permissible. And countries that are hurt by an attack have a right to respond in ways that are appropriate, proportional, and that minimize harm to innocent parties. We also support a set of additional principles that, if observed, can contribute substantially to conflict prevention and stability in time of peace. We view these as universal concepts that should be appealing to all responsible states, and they are already gaining traction.

First, no country should conduct or knowingly support online activity that intentionally damages or impedes the use of another country’s critical infrastructure. Second, no country should seek either to prevent emergency teams from responding to a cybersecurity incident, or allow its own teams to cause harm. Third, no country should conduct or support cyber-enabled theft of intellectual property, trade secrets, or other confidential business information for commercial gain. Fourth, every country should mitigate malicious cyber activity emanating from its soil, and they should do so in a transparent, accountable and cooperative way. And fifth, every country should do what it can to help states that are victimized by a cyberattack.

I guarantee you if those five principles were genuinely and fully adopted and implemented by countries, we would be living in a far safer and far more confident cyberworld.

But even with these principles, ensuring international cyber stability will remain a work in progress. We still have a lot of work to do to develop a truly reliable framework – based on international law – that will effectively deter violations and minimize the danger of conflict.

To build trust, the UN Group of Governmental Experts has stressed the importance of high-level communication, transparency about national policies, dispute settlement mechanisms, and the timely sharing of information – all of them, very sound and important thoughts. The bottom line is that we who seek stability and peace in cyberspace should be clear about what we expect and intend, and those who may be tempted to cause trouble should be forewarned: they will be held accountable for their actions. The United States reserves the right to use all necessary means, including economic, trade and diplomatic tools, as appropriate in order to defend our nation and our partners, our friends, our allies. The sanctions against North Korean officials earlier this year are one example of the use of such a tool in response to DPRK's provocative, destabilizing and repressive actions, including the cyber-attack on Sony Pictures. Now, as the international community moves towards consensus about what exactly constitutes unacceptable behavior in cyberspace, more and more responsible nations need to join together to act against disruptors and rogue actors.

As we know, malicious governments are only part of the cybersecurity problem. Organized crime is active in cyberspace. So are individual con artists, unscrupulous hackers, and persons engaged in fraud. Unfortunately, the relative anonymity of the internet makes it an ideal vehicle for criminal activity – but not an excuse for working through the principles I described to finding rules of the road and working so that the internet works for everybody else. The resulting financial cost of those bad actors, the cost of cybercrime, is already enormous, but so is the loss of trust in the internet that every successful fraud or theft engenders.

And that’s precisely why the United States is working with partners on every continent to strengthen the capacity of governments to prevent cyber-crime through improved training, the right legal frameworks, information sharing, and public involvement.

The best vehicle for international cooperation in this field is the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, which my government urges every nation to consider joining. There is no better legal framework for working across borders to define what cybercrime is and how breaches of the law should be prevented and prosecuted. We also support the G-7 24/7 Network – in which South Korea is an active participant – and that enables police and prosecutors from more than 70 countries to request rapid assistance on their investigations.

The United States is also working with partners to improve network defenses and in cooperation with other countries to respond to cyber incidents. All of this is crucial, because in an interconnected system like the internet, poor cybersecurity has the potential to increase the danger for all of us. So we have to help each other. We have to maintain direct contact between our incident response teams, invest heavily in that capacity, and build that capacity so that weak spots are turned into stronger blockages against the vulnerabilities, and ultimately, they disappear.

So to sum up, I think it is clear to all of us that the internet is not like most inventions that affect a single industry, require just a few tweaks – a little adjustment here and there – and then we can all move on. That’s not what it requires. Digital technology has led us into a whole new frontier in which we have to find our way – and there are many different dimensions to it. When I was still in the United States Senate, I introduced legislation to protect the privacy rights of individuals and I still feel very strongly about that principle. And we are working to make sure we protect the privacy of people, not just in our country but in others.

As Secretary of State, I am in charge of an organization that is the target of hacking attempts every single day – and we have to defend against those. As a diplomat, I’m constantly engaged in discussions with counterparts about how to best enhance access and how to design and enforce the right rules to protect all of us.

My meetings with the private sector, the scientific community, the civil society, all bring home to me how important it is that all stakeholders have a voice in internet governance. The very essence of this technology is its freedom and its openness, and unless we bring all the stakeholders to the table, that will be lost. And something more important than all of us will be lost with it.

We cannot let that happen. Now, as I said before, obviously, the internet is not without risk – but at the end of the day, if we restricted all technology that could possibly be used for bad purposes, we’d have to revert to the Stone Age. Throughout the global community, we need to come together around principles that will establish a solid foundation for our freedoms – principles that will protect the rights of individuals, the privacy of our citizenry, and the security of our nations – all at the same time.

So I leave you with a somewhat unusual request: Keep doing what so many of you are already doing. Speak up for an open and secure internet. Defend freedom of expression. Add to South Korea’s great reputation as a leader in digital technology. In doing so, we can be absolutely confident about the future that we will shape.

And how will we know when we finally have succeeded? When an open, secure internet is as widespread as electricity or cellphone coverage itself. When it is fully integrated into everyday life in every corner of the globe. When it is no longer contested but accepted and even taken for granted. When we reach that point – believe me: Your successors will look back at all of this debate and they will wonder how could anyone have argued the other way.

My friends, if we do all of these things, if we stick by our guns, the internet revolution that we are living today will literally define the kinds of opportunities that young people all over the world are hoping for today – help strengthen governments; provide opportunity; make us safer; bring us together; and in effect, define the future of this century. That’s the goal we’re fighting for, and we look forward to working with all of you to achieve it.

Thank you.

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

SECRETARY KERRY'S REMARKS WITH STAFF AT SEOUL EMBASSY STAFF

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Meets with the Staff and Families of Embassy Seoul, U.S. Forces Korea, Republic of Korea Military Personnel, and Koreans Who Assisted Ambassador Lippert

Remarks
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Collier Field House, Yongsan Army Garrison
Seoul, South Korea
May 18, 2015

GEN SCAPARROTTI: (Applause.) Well, welcome. It’s my great pleasure to introduce our ambassador. He’s a seasoned diplomat, has a deep appreciation for Korea as a country and also this region. And he’s also a seasoned service member with experience down range and appreciates what we in the military do here every day to defend Korea. So if you’d give a warm welcome to our ambassador, Ambassador Mark Lippert, please. (Applause.)

AMBASSADOR LIPPERT: All right, thanks, everybody. I’m going to be – it’s just a great honor to be here, and thanks, General Scap – a great partner. We have one team, one fight here, so it’s a great, great partnership with the military. Just – I’ve been given the great pleasure of introducing our Secretary of State, Secretary Kerry, a man who literally needs no introduction, but just so people know: a person who served in the military honorably; the son of a Foreign Service officer; chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee; federal – or prosecutor; again, a welcome, a distinguished – please welcome a very distinguished, finest public servant, Secretary Kerry. Thanks. (Applause.)

SECRETARY KERRY: Wow, thank you very much. Thank you, guys, very much. We appreciate it. What a rousing welcome. It is great to be here. I’m honored to be here, delighted to be partially introduced by General Scap, Scaparrotti, and appreciate his leadership of U.S. forces in Korea. And for all of you guys in uniform, every single one of you, our friends who serve with us who host us here, we’re so grateful to all of you. I’m honored to be here today. Thank you very, very much. And kids, thank you for coming out. It’s really good to see you all. Appreciate it.

I’ll tell you, I served 28 full years in the United States Senate, and in the last couple of years politics began to change in America. And I was walking through the airport in Boston one day, and I kind of – you learn how to walk and not necessarily have somebody see you because you knew something would come up, some issue, something that mattered. And so this guy sort of shouts at me and says, “Hey, you! Hey, you, anybody ever tell you you look like that Kerry we sent down to Washington?” (Laughter.) And I said, “Yeah, they tell me that all the time.” He says, “Kind of makes you mad, don’t it?” (Laughter.) So that’s how bad politics has gotten back home. You guys aren’t missing anything, I’ll tell you.

I am really happy to be here. When President Obama came here, he talked about this being the frontier of freedom. And when you look at the events that are going on in the world today – I was just recently in Africa, and I was at AFRICOM in Djibouti. I met with a lot of your fellow service folks. And then I was in Somalia; I was the first Secretary of State to ever go to Mogadishu, and they wouldn’t let me off the base – it’s that dangerous still there. But the folks there are doing an amazing job. No matter where I go, anywhere in the world, I am privileged to see you in uniform and I want – I’ll come back to the State Department in a minute, but I want to speak to those of you in uniform.

The – I had the privilege – I know Mark also served. He was in the Navy. I served in the Navy. I was in the Brown Water Navy in Vietnam during the 1960s, late 1960s, so I’m not quite as old as – and I think back on that because I remember being there in Christmas of 1968 and feeling kind of distant from family and all the rest of it. So I have always had a deep, deep appreciation for what it means to put on the uniform of our country and to go serve. But I’ll tell you this: Today’s military, all of you, are so much better trained, so much better prepared, so much better equipped, and our military overall is so far ahead and away the finest fighting force, most capable entity on the face of this planet, and every single one of us in civilian life every day wake up and proudly say thank you to you for your service. We are deeply, deeply grateful for what you’re doing. You are on the frontier of freedom. And here particularly in this part of the world, as we see Kim Jong-un engaging in these extraordinary, provocative activities, building nuclear weapons against all of the UN conventions and everything that we’ve tried to prevent together with the Six-Party powers – Russia, China, Japan, et cetera – it’s dangerous. And nobody quite knows what a reckless person like this fellow will do, so you have to be prepared for every eventuality, which is why we redeployed some ships and forces and why we’re talking about THAAD and other things today.

But in the end, the greatest deterrence we have is really all of you and the capacity that the world knows you bring to the table. We’re fighting on so many fronts right now, it’s challenging. I talked to Henry Kissinger, the famous Henry Kissinger the other day. He’s 90-something now, and we were talking about Iran and Iran’s nuclear weapon and the deal we’re trying to negotiate. And I was – he was telling me about not flying around too much. And I said, “Well, you’re the guy who wrote the book on shuttle diplomacy and moved around.” He said, “No, no, no.” He said, “I had one or two things to deal with. You guys are dealing with Afghanistan and Pakistan and North Korea and Syria and Libya and Yemen, Iraq – everything simultaneously.” And we have this unbelievable set of non-state actors. During the Cold War, we were dealing with states. Now we have these non-state actors, and it’s a whole different challenge. And it’s going to go on for a while.

But I’ll tell you this, from what I’ve seen of what we’re doing in Iraq today as we’re pushing ISIL back – and we will push them out of Iraq ultimately, and we’re putting together the plans to be able to know exactly how we’re going to deal with Syria. In the end, there’s nothing to negotiate. There’s no way to deal with these people except eliminate them from the field of battle, and that is exactly what we are going to do over time. So I thank you for all you do. (Applause.)

Now, we are very privileged, as you all know, in this diplomatic room we’re in today. There’s not a lot of separation between the military and diplomats anymore. I was in Kunar province, in Afghanistan. How many of you served in Afghanistan? Well, I got up there – thank you for that service, and we are trying very hard to make sure that transition follows through and honors your service and the sacrifice that was made there. But I’ll tell you, when I was up in Kunar province a couple years ago, a few years ago, before I became Secretary, I met a young Navy commander who was the head of the FOB up there, forward operating base, and I was briefed by him. And it was really one of the best briefings I’ve ever had in all of my public life. This guy knew every tribe. He knew every leader. He knew what the rivalries were between them – how long and when. He knew the governor. He knew the mayor. He was a mayor himself fundamentally, but he was also a psychologist, a teacher, a planner, a city planner. It’s the most incredible demand on skill set.

And Bob Gates, our former Secretary of Defense, said many times that he thought a whole bunch of what used to happen in the State Department had been shifted over to the Department of Defense. And now it’s sort of seamless. There’s a kind of integration. So we’re all in the same business, folks. We’re trying to get people to understand that life can offer better alternatives than a lot of folks opt for. And we believe in peace and stability and freedom and democracy. I just came from talking about the internet and the freedom it brings to people. And Korea is a great partner in all of that.

But we are privileged, alongside you, to have a group of diplomats made up of local staff – I want all the local staff to raise your hands, everybody who’s a local hire here in South Korea, in Seoul. We have any number of them? Yeah, we’ve got a few here. There we are. Thank you very much, because we can’t do our work without you and we very much appreciate what you do. But I also thank the 200-plus direct hires, all the family members who are part of this effort. Regrettably, as we learned recently with the vicious assault on our ambassador, everybody has a risk and we’re all bearing those risks wherever we are in the world. It’s a dangerous place.

So I’m very, very grateful to every member of the Foreign Service, whether you’re local hire or a civil servant or FSO or TDY or a political appointee or you’re here with another department of our government. A profound thank you to all of you who make our embassy work. We’re very, very grateful to you.

And what we are doing is connected to what every other embassy and every other person in military is doing anywhere else in the world. These are not a series of ink blots somewhere spread around. It’s all connected. It’s all about the security of our country, it’s about protecting our interests and projecting our values, and helping to bring peace and stability because everywhere today, the world is so interconnected, nobody has a way to just isolate themselves and pretend you can get by without being connected to what’s happening in some other part of the world. That’s the world we live in today and that’s the world our kids are going to grow up in and manage, and we need to leave this place in better shape for them than we found it. That’s our obligation.

So to every single one – first of all, to Mark Lippert I want to say, and to Robyn, what a great job they are doing here. Mark showed indomitable spirit in the attack that he suffered and in just showing up for work and never meeting a beat. I talked to him in the hospital a couple of times. I was amazed by how calm and ready to get back to work and understanding he was. And I think every one of us here is grateful for his leadership and respects his courage and determination. And Mark, thank you for the job you’re doing. (Applause.)

I knew Mark when he worked in the Senate. He worked for a couple of other senator colleagues of mine. But I really like him, not just because he’s a Navy guy, but he brought a dog over here. He brought his Basset Hound here called Grigsby, and I’m told Grigsby – I have a dog; it’s called the State Department “DiploMutt” – (laughter) – and I’m really appreciative that he’s following in that tradition. Though I understand his dog speaks Korean, mine is still learning “sit, stay, come,” basics. (Laughter.) But we’ll get there one day.

Anyway, I don’t want to tell you all up. I want to have a chance to shake some hands and say hello to everybody. But believe me, in a complicated world, at a difficult time with a lot on everybody’s plate, it just could not be more reassuring, it could not be more heartwarming to know we got folks like all of you doing the job to carry the banner for the United States of America. A lot of people do not get to get up in the morning and go to work and be able to get the reward that everybody here gets for helping to make your country safer and helping to bring a better life to a lot of other people.

So God bless you all. Thank you. Love you and what you do and everything else, and stay at it. Your country is so grateful, and President Obama sends his very, very best to everybody. Thank you all very, very much. (Applause.)

Sunday, March 8, 2015

AMBASSADOR MARK LIPPERT RECEIVES JOINT CHIEFS VISITOR AFTER ATTACK

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
Winnefeld Visits American Diplomat Who Was Attacked in Seoul
By Lisa Ferdinando
DoD News, Defense Media Activity

OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea, March 7, 2015 – The vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff visited the U.S. Ambassador to Korea, Mark Lippert, in the hospital in Seoul today.

Lippert was attacked Thursday during a morning event in Seoul. He underwent surgery to treat wounds to his face and hand. The ambassador tweeted out later that day he is doing well and in great spirits. A suspect is in custody.

“I was extremely concerned when I heard about this vicious and unwarranted attack Thursday on my dear friend Ambassador Mark Lippert,” Navy Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr. said.

Winnefeld and Lippert have been good friends for many years. They worked together when Lippert served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff for the National Security Council.

Lippert held senior positions in the Department of Defense, including chief of staff to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs. A Navy reservist, he has deployed to Afghanistan and in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“I’m glad I was able to visit him during this stop in Korea," said Winnefeld, who arrived in Korea this morning on a USO goodwill tour. "I’m relieved to know he is doing better and wish him a speedy recovery.”

Winnefeld is currently traveling around the world to bring a group of entertainers and athletes to visit troops. This one-day stop is among seven on a tour that has been planned for months.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

U.S.-JAPAN MEET TO DISCUSS DEFENSE COOPERATION GUIDELINES

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 

Right:  Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work meets with Masanori Nishi, Japan’s administrative vice defense minister, at the Pentagon, June 4, 2014. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett.  
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 4, 2014 – Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work met at the Pentagon today with Masanori Nishi, Japan’s administrative vice defense minister, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Courtney Hillson, a spokeswoman for Work, said.

In a statement summarizing the meeting, Hillson said the two defense leaders discussed the status of the revision to the guidelines for U.S.-Japan Defense cooperation and endorsed an ambitious and forward-looking update that will enable the alliance to continue its vital role in deterring conflict and advancing peace and prosperity.

“Deputy Secretary Work welcomed Japan's efforts to play a more proactive role in contributing to global and regional security and stability,” Hillson said, “including re-examining the interpretation of its constitution relating to the right of collective self-defense.”

Both leaders underscored the importance of strengthening trilateral defense cooperation with South Korea, she said, and noted recent progress in this area. Work expressed appreciation for Japan's efforts in moving forward on the Futenma Replacement Facility at Camp Schwab-Henoko Bay, and noted the U.S. commitment to explore ways to reduce the impact of the U.S. presence in Okinawa, she added.

“Deputy Secretary Work and Vice Minister Nishi reaffirmed that the U.S.-Japan alliance is the cornerstone of peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region, and committed to working together to strengthen and broaden the alliance to meet the security challenges of the 21st century,” Hillson said.

Friday, April 18, 2014

DEFENSE COOPERATION DISCUSSED AT PENTAGON BY U.S., SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 
U.S., Japan, South Korea Meet on Defense Cooperation
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 18, 2014 – The United States, Japan and the South Korea held what officials called “a productive, substantial meeting” at the Pentagon to promote trilateral defense cooperation.

The two days of meetings, which wrapped up today, grew out of the trilateral summit hosted by President Barack Obama in The Hague on March 25.
In a joint statement summarizing the meeting, officials said the three nations reaffirmed that they will not accept North Korea as a nuclear-armed state and that they agreed to coordinate closely to deter North Korean provocations.
The three countries also reaffirmed the necessity for a coordinated response and close cooperation with the international community with respect to the threat to international security posed by the North Korea's nuclear, ballistic missile, and proliferation programs, the statement said.

In addition, the three countries shared the understanding of the importance of cooperating on nontraditional security issues such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and counterpiracy, and discussed additional ways to cooperate in these areas.

Mark Lippert, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s chief of staff; Yoo Jeh-seung, deputy minister for policy in South Korea’s Defense Ministry; and Hideshi Tokuchi, director-general of the Japanese Defense Ministry's Defense Policy Bureau, headed the delegations for the meetings.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

PRESIDENT OBAMA SENDS CONDOLENCES TO FAMILIES OF S. KOREAN FERRY VICTIMS

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 
President Sends Condolences, Pledges Aid for Ferry Sinking
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 17, 2014 – President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama have expressed condolences to the families of the victims of yesterday’s ferry sinking off the coast of South Korea.

In a White House statement, the president also said he’s directed the U.S. military “to provide any and all assistance requested by our Korean partners in the days ahead.”

The text of the president’s and first lady’s statement follows:
“On behalf of all the American people, Michelle and I send our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of the tragic ferry sinking off the coast of the Republic of Korea. The bonds of friendship between the American and Korean people are strong and enduring, and our hearts ache to see our Korean friends going through such a terrible loss, especially the loss of so many young students.

“South Korea is one of our closest allies, and American Navy personnel and U.S. Marines are already on the scene assisting with the search and rescue efforts. I’ve directed our military to provide any and all assistance requested by our Korean partners in the days ahead.

“As I will underscore on my visit to Seoul next week, America’s commitment to our ally South Korea is unwavering—in good times and in bad. As the Korean people deal with this heartbreaking tragedy, they will have the unending support and friendship of the United States.”

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

USS BONHOMME RICHARD RESPONDS TO KOREAN PASSENGER SHP SINKING

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT

Right:  MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 stand ready on the flight deck of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard, April 16, 2014. Sailors and Marines aboard Bonhomme Richard stand ready to render aid at the scene of a sinking ferry near the island of Jindo off South Korea’s southwestern coast. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Adam D. Wainwright.  

U.S. Ship Responds to Scene of Korean Ship Sinking
Navy News Service

SEOUL, South Korea, April 16, 2014 – The U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard is responding to the scene after the passenger ship Sewol sank near the island of Jindo off South Korea’s southwestern coast.

The ship had more than 450 people aboard and was traveling from Incheon, South Korea, to Jeju island at the time of the incident.

Bonhomme Richard has established communications with the South Korean on-scene commander and is standing by to assist as required. The ship was on a routine patrol in waters west of the Korean Peninsula.

"When we were alerted to the accident, we immediately diverted to the scene to render assistance," said Navy Capt. Heidi C. Agle, commodore of U.S. Amphibious Squadron 11. "However, the efficiency of the Korean response eclipsed the immediate need for our assets. We are standing by to provide support as requested by the on-scene commander."

Bonhomme Richard is forward-deployed to Sasebo, Japan, as part of the U.S. 7th Fleet. With its embarked Marine expeditionary unit, the ship is capable of both combat and humanitarian operations.

Monday, April 14, 2014

U.S. MARINES FIRE HOWITZERS DURING SSANG YONG 2014

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 





Above Photos:  U.S. Marines fire rounds from a howitzer during Ssang Yong 2014 on Su Seung-ri range in South Korea, April 3, 2014. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Lena Wakayama.

Saturday, April 5, 2014

DEFENSE SECRETARY HAGEL TOUTS IMPORTANCE OF U.S.-JAPAN PARTNERSHIP

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel waves to the pilots of a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter after landing at Hardy Barracks in Tokyo, April 5, 2014. Hagel met with troops at Yokota Air Base earlier in the day and will continue his three-day stay in Japan, meeting with the Japanese prime minister and the defense and foreign ministers. DOD Photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo  

FROM: U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 
Hagel: U.S.-Japan Partnership Critical to Regional Security
By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

TOKYO, April 5, 2014 – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel landed in Japan today as part of his fourth official trip to the Asia-Pacific region to reassure the nation’s leaders that the U.S.-Japan relationship is one of America’s strongest partnerships, friendships and treaty relationships.

This evening Hagel met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. According to Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby, the secretary thanked Abe for his leadership and for helping the two militaries maintain a strong relationship.
Hagel expressed his firm commitment to the U.S.-Japan treaty of mutual cooperation and security and to working closely with the leadership of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces to improve the nations’ collective capabilities, Kirby said.

The leaders discussed a range of regional security issues, including recent provocations by North Korea, Chinese maritime claims and military activities, and the need for a continued focus on dialogue and cooperation among the United States, Japan and South Korea.

Hagel affirmed strong U.S. support for Japanese efforts at defense reform and thanked Abe for supporting the Japanese government last December in securing a landfill permit for the Futenma replacement facility.

Tomorrow, Hagel will meet with Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera, Foreign Affairs Minister Fumio Kishida and U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy.
“There are challenges in this part of the world that include Japan’s future,” the defense secretary told reporters traveling with him.

“I’m visiting Japan … not just [to] reconnect and recommit U.S. efforts but to build on the recent meeting President {Barack] Obama had with Prime Minister Abe and South Korean President Park [Geun-hye],” Hagel said, “as we look at new opportunities and challenges in this part of the world.”

He added, “The Japanese-American partnership is a very critical anchor to peace and stability and security in this part of the world, so I look forward to conversations here in the next couple of days with the senior leaders of Japan.”
Even before he landed in Tokyo, Hagel initiated and hosted in Honolulu an informal meeting of defense ministers of the 10 countries that make up the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN. The meeting was the first ever held in the United States.

“The ASEAN defense ministers conference was an important first step in what I’m doing here in the region because it represented the initial effort we have been working on as we continue to collaborate and coordinate with and strengthen our relationships in the Asia-Pacific,” Hagel said.

As President Barack Obama, Secretary of State John F. Kerry and Hagel himself have said many times, ASEAN is an important organization now and will continue to be important, the secretary said, because it represents the collective interests of the region.

ASEAN member countries are Burma, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

“When you add to [this] the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus members [which consists of the 10 ASEAN defense ministers and defense ministers from the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, New Zealand and Russia] … that’s a significant representation of this part of the world,” Hagel observed.
The U.S. strategy of rebalancing to the Asia-Pacific region “is very much based on these relationships and all their variances and dimensions,” the secretary said, “so to start [his fourth trip to the region in less than 12 months] spending a couple of days with ASEAN members was important.”

Hagel landed here today at Yokota Air Base, whose host unit is the 374th Airlift Wing, and his first visit was with 200 U.S. service members and Japanese Self-Defense Forces troops.

In a hangar on a stage in front of giant flags of the United States and Japan, the secretary brought greetings from President Obama and thanked those from U.S. Forces Japan and their families for their service and sacrifice.
Hagel also thanked those from Japan’s Self-Defense Forces “for what you do for your country and for our partnership, and for helping keep peace and stability in this part of the world.”

In Hagel’s discussions with Japanese leaders, a senior defense official traveling with the secretary said Hagel will have an opportunity to maintain the positive forward motion initiated in Tokyo last fall during the historic Two Plus Two meeting he attended with Kerry.

That progress, the official said, involved work on the bilateral U.S.-Japan alliance to revise the defense guidelines, move forward with the realignment of U.S. military forces in Japan, and strengthen and orient the alliance to focus on 21st century challenges.

Hagel and the Japanese leaders also will discuss building a common understanding of the regional and global security environment.

“Here the secretary will … share perspectives with the Japanese prime minister and defense minister on what they’re seeing on the Korean Peninsula, in the East China Sea and in the South China Sea,” the official said, and conduct important alliance consultations on opportunities and challenges of the international security order.

The senior defense official said Hagel and Japanese officials also would discuss Japan’s relationships with other countries in the region.

“The president and Prime Minister Abe and South Korean President Park had a historic trilateral summit on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit at the Hague recently,” the official said, “and there will be an opportunity to continue underscoring the importance … we see in greater trilateral cooperation among the United States, Japan and South Korea, and the United States, Japan and Australia, and how to move those relationships forward.”

In Washington on April 17-18 the United States, South Korea and Japan will hold a sixth round of Defense Trilateral Talks, the official said, and in late April President Obama will visit Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Malaysia.
\

Friday, April 4, 2014

U.S. MARINES PARTICIPATE IN EXERCISE SSANG YONG 14 IN SUESONGRI, SOUTH KOREA

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 


U.S. Marines fire a practice rocket from a high-mobility, artillery rocket system during a live-fire exercise on Rodriguez range, South Korea, March 28, 2014. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Lauren Whitney.


U.S. Marines position a high-mobility, artillery rocket system during a live-fire exercise on Rodriguez range, South Korea, March 27, 2014. This is the first time the system been deployed and fired within South Korea. The Marines are assigned to Delta Battery, 2nd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Lauren Whitney.


Friday, February 14, 2014

REMARKS BY SECRETARY OF STATE KERRY AND REPUBLIC OF KOREA FOREIGN MINISTER BYUNG-SE

FROM:  STATE DEPARTMENT  
Remarks With Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se
Press Availability
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Seoul, South Korea
February 13, 2014

MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) Ladies and gentlemen, we are now ready to begin the press conference with Minister Yun Byung-se and Secretary John Kerry. I am the spokesperson of MOFA. My name is Cho Tai-young. For today’s press conference, we’ll begin with an opening statement and then we will take questions. First we’ll listen to the opening statement of Minister Yun.

FOREIGN MINISTER YUN: (Via interpreter) Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Let me begin by extending my warm welcome to Secretary Kerry to Korea. Secretary Kerry is a great partner with whom I have always had productive discussions. Today, he even brought us the good news of President Obama’s upcoming visit to Korea.

President Park’s successful visit to the U.S. in May last year and the following talks between the two leaders; Vice President Biden’s visit to Korea last December; five rounds of talks between Secretary Kerry and me; and President Obama’s upcoming visit to Korea in April. These series of senior-level exchanges between Korea and the U.S. attest to the highest state of our alliance. I must say, President Obama’s upcoming visit comes at a very timely moment, given the recent developments on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.

As you are well aware, I met Secretary Kerry in Washington, DC last month, and we agreed to intensify our consultations to explore our policy options in light of the North Korean situation. In this regard, the two countries have continued to engage in high-level consultations, including Deputy Secretary Burns’s visit to Seoul earlier this year. Today’s meeting is part of such ongoing consultations. Secretary Kerry and I reaffirm that the two countries stand fully prepared against any potential situation, given the mixed signals from North Korea as it tries to engage in a charm offensive, even as it continues its nuclear development and threats of provocation.

In my talks with Secretary Kerry, I also had the opportunity to explain the recent inter-Korean agreement to hold a family reunion event as well as the outcomes of yesterday’s high-level meeting between the two Koreas.

Regarding the North Korean nuclear issue, we took note that meaningful progress can be made when the international community stands united, as seen recently in another part of the world. We share the view that a principled and effective two-track approach of pressure and dialogue is necessary. In this regard, based on firm R.O.K.-U.S. collaboration, we will make greater efforts with China and other countries to achieve substantial denuclearization of North Korea.

Secretary Kerry and I also discussed the future of the Korean Peninsula. I am also always mindful of President Park’s consistent foreign policy, which aims at the happiness of all people on the Korean Peninsula, as well as President Obama’s remarks during the speech in his 2012 visit to Korea. The currents of history cannot be held back forever. The deep longing for freedom and dignity will not go away, which emphasizes the inevitable nature of Korea’s reunification. Recalling our leaders’ thoughts, I laid out my government’s position on the peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula. Today, Secretary Kerry said it was very timely that President Park highlighted the importance of the debate on the future of the Peninsula through her reunification as a huge bonanza statement.

Secretary Kerry also reaffirmed the U.S. support for the reunification of Korea, as stated in the joint declaration of the 60th anniversary of the alliance. We shared the view that the future will change North Korea if it does not change itself, and we agreed to consolidate our strategic consultations regarding the sustainable peace and reunification of the Korean Peninsula.

Going beyond these issues, we shared the view that it is critical for the countries in the region to improve bilateral relations among one another in order to mitigate the aggravating Asian paradox. In this regard, I appreciated the constructive efforts of the U.S. to improve the relationships among the countries in the region, and to this end I pointed out that countries should refrain from regressive remarks that undermine the trust of their neighbors.

We noted the passing of the bill on the extension of the R.O.K.-U.S. Nuclear Cooperation Agreement at the U.S. Congress as well as the smooth conclusion of the R.O.K.-U.S. defense burden-sharing negotiations. We agreed to continue to work together on important bilateral issues such as the revision of the R.O.K.-U.S. Nuclear Cooperation Agreement and the transition of wartime operational control.

We will work based on the spirit of alliance to find mutually satisfactory solutions. We also exchanged our views on the ways to promote bilateral economic cooperation, including the implementation of the KORUS FTA and R.O.K.’s participation in the TPP. As the mutual visits between Secretary Kerry and me in April last year led to the successful visit of President Park, I have high expectations that our mutual visits in the early weeks of the new year will lead to the successful visit of President Obama in April, ultimately contributing to the further development of the R.O.K.-U.S. comprehensive, strategic alliance.

MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) Next, Secretary Kerry, you have the floor.

SECRETARY KERRY: Well, thank you very much, Minister Yun, my friend, Byung-se. I appreciate very, very much the generous welcome, and I appreciate my in-depth, comprehensive discussion that I just had with President Park. And I especially thank both President Park and Minister Yun for a very warm and generous welcome, as well as for a very productive discussion. It’s a great pleasure for me to be back in Seoul.

And while it’s interesting – both of us are focused on the current Olympics, and we are both rooting for our home teams, but it is noteworthy that preparations are already underway for PyeongChang in 2018. It shows you how much work has to be done and how the process really never stops.

This is my fifth trip to Asia as the Secretary of State, and I want to confirm that the United States rebalance to the Asia Pacific remains a top priority for the Obama Administration. Every day, at the President’s direction, we are directing more diplomatic, more economic and more military resources to help advance the goals that we share with our partners throughout this region.

The U.S.-Republic of Korea alliance is crucial to that rebalance. And our relationship is without question the lynchpin of stability and of security in Northeast Asia. That’s why President Obama hosted President Park for a productive set of meetings last year, and that’s why, as Minister Yun just noted, the President will visit Seoul for the fourth time this April. And that is why Foreign Minister Yun was also the first foreign minister that I hosted in the new year, and that is why I am here today, on the first stop in my visit to Asia in 2014. This is an important moment. There are vital issues in the region, and this is a central relationship to resolving any of those issues.

More than six decades ago, our alliance was forged on the battlefield, and the United States remains unwavering in our commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea. Last month, the United States and the Republic of Korea successfully concluded negotiations funding the U.S. military presence on the Korean Peninsula. A special measures agreement that we signed will help ensure our military alliance is ready and able to deter or defend against North Korean aggression, should that occur. We are in lockstep with the Republic of Korea when it comes to our efforts to address the threat posed by North Korea – posed by their nuclear weapons and the ballistic missile programs.

We have yet to see evidence that North Korea is prepared to meet its obligations and negotiate the verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Let me be clear: The United States will not accept North Korea as a nuclear-armed state. We will not accept talks for the sake of talks. And the D.P.R.K. must show that it will negotiate and live up to its commitments regarding denuclearization.

In both diplomatic and security terms, close, trilateral cooperation among Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo remains essential. And, of course, China has an important role to play. Tomorrow, I will go to Beijing to discuss ways that we may be able to intensify our collective efforts. At the same time, progress in inter-Korean relations is important – not only to the Korean people, but also to the United States and to the world.

So we very much welcome President Park’s efforts to build trust, which I believe can lead to improvements in North Korea’s human rights situation and ultimately lay the groundwork for peaceful reunification of the Peninsula. We congratulate President Park for her discussions of this, for her willingness to express a vision about it, and particularly for her declarations regarding the possibilities of economic bonanza and other benefits that could come from that vision.

U.S.-Republic of Korea security cooperation extends, obviously, well beyond Northeast Asia. Close cooperation on both regional and global security challenges is a key pillar of the U.S.-Republic of Korea relationship. We have worked together and with international partners in every corner of the globe. For years now, U.S. and South Korean soldiers have served side by side in Afghanistan, and today, the Republic of Korea is a major donor to Afghanistan’s reconstruction and stabilization efforts. The Republic of Korea has also contributed to the international efforts to ease the humanitarian suffering in Syria, and also to deal with the problem of refugees in the region.

Let me underscore that the U.S.-Republic of Korea relationship today is much more than a military alliance. It is a global partnership that is growing stronger every year. In the nearly two years since the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement came into force, our bilateral trade has grown to more than $100 billion annually. Today, the Republic of Korea is our sixth-largest trading partner, and there is room, obviously, for even more growth, which we look forward to. This afternoon, we discussed the need to work together to ensure that the KORUS commitments are fully implemented so that job growth and other benefits for both of our peoples can be fully realized.

The strong economic bond that we share really is rooted in the strong bonds among our peoples. Today, more than 1.7 million Korean Americans live in the United States, and nearly 71,000 South Korean students are studying on our shores. For per capita, that is more than any other major economy in the world. And the number of American students here in places like Seoul and Busan continues to rise every year.

So, as we stand here tonight, we can safely say that the United States and the Republic of Korea are strong allies growing stronger; we are partners strengthening the partnership; and we are friends strengthening our friendship.

Last year, we celebrated the 60th year of this extraordinary relationship and all of the transformation that has come with it. This year marks the first year of the next 60. We hope that 2014 and the years that follow will bring about greater prosperity, greater opportunity, stability, and ultimately peace, for our nations and for all of our neighbors.

Thank you all for the chance to share a few words with you, and I look forward to any questions.

MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) Next we would like to open the floor to questions. Since we don’t have too much time, I would like to ask you to keep your questions brief. First, from YTN.

QUESTION: (Via interpreter) Yes, my name is Kimi Joon. I’m from YTN. I would like to ask a question about North Korea. You said that progress is very important. Yesterday, for the first time in seven years, there was a high-level meeting. And at the meeting, North Korea said that – demanded that the military exercises be postponed until after the family reunions. And if the military exercises go on as planned, do you think that this might impact the reunions, family reunions? So I would like to know your reaction.

And for the nuclear issue, this is not something that should be discussed between the two Koreas. You said this could be translated to mean that it should be discussed within the Six-Party Talks or between Korea – North Korea and the U.S. So first Secretary Kerry, and then Minister Yun, please.

SECRETARY KERRY: Yeah, I’m not sure that I understand the second question on the nuclear issue. Can you restate that?

QUESTION: (Via interpreter) Regarding the nuclear issue, yesterday, during the high-level meeting, they said – North Korea said that this shouldn’t be discussed between South and North. So regarding nuclear – denuclearization, it could mean that North Korea wants to talk directly with the U.S. So what is your position?

SECRETARY KERRY: We’re – our – well, let me be clear, first of all, on the reunification issue. The United States does not believe that it is appropriate to link a humanitarian issue such as reunification with any other issue. And since the exercises are exercises that are not changed – not bigger, not different, occurring at exactly the same time as they have occurred every year, in the same manner that they have occurred as a matter of readiness between the United States and the Republic of Korea – there is no legitimate excuse for linking the two.

The family reunification is a matter of human rights. It’s a matter of decency. It’s a matter of living up to normal standards of human behavior and of human – of shared values and standards in the international community. And we would urge a complete separation of these two and no use of one as an excuse to somehow condition the other.

With respect to the Six-Party Talks versus individual talks, nuclear talks, the United States position has not changed. It is clear. We are in full agreement with President Park’s stance on North Korea. Today we reaffirm our commitment to a common goal, which is the verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful manner. And we are committed to going to talks only if there is a clarity with respect to the steps that need to be taken for denuclearization by the North. We are not in favor of talks for the sake of talks. We’ve been through that exercise previously. We want to know that this is real. And it’s – frankly, the responsibility is on North Korea to take meaningful actions to demonstrate that denuclearization is real. And it’s time for the North to choose the path of peace and to refrain from provocations and/or using excuses to avoid the responsibility that they bear.

So we are not engaged in back-channel efforts to have face-to-face talks or bilateral talks. We are committed to a process, together with our allies and friends in this effort, to guarantee that when and if we get back to talks those talks are meaningful.

FOREIGN MINISTER YUN: (In Korean. No interpretation.)

MS. PSAKI: The next question will be from William Wan of The Washington Post.

QUESTION: Hi. I wanted to ask about the rift between our allies. How can U.S. and Korea present a united front and coordinated Asia policy when our two biggest allies – the U.S. allies in Asia, Japan and South Korea, are at each other’s throats? And what practical actual steps can you take, on the part of Secretary Kerry, and do you intend to take, on the part of Minister Yun, to bring those two sides together?

SECRETARY KERRY: Look, there is no question but that positive relations between Japan and its neighbors are in the best interests of the United States, the region, and the two countries themselves. That’s our belief. And we respect the fact that the Republic of Korea and Japan are both developed free-market economies that share values. They share a robust economic relationship, and they also share with us compelling strategic interests. So while the United States obviously has a strong interest in the relationship and in the security component of the relationship, it’s up to Japan and the Republic of Korea to put history behind them and move the relationship forward. And it is critical at the same time that we maintain robust trilateral cooperation, particularly in the face of North Korea’s nuclear threat.

So we urge our friends in Japan and in North Korea – in North Korea and South Korea – excuse me, in the Republic of Korea – we urge both of them to work with us together to find a way forward to help resolve these deeply felt historic differences that still have meaning today. And we respect the meaning that they still have today. We understand the meaning that they still have today.

So I made this case to Foreign Minister Kishida last week when he visited Washington, and again – we talked about it today with President Park and with Foreign Minister Yun. So we will continue – the United States will continue, I will personally continue to encourage both allies to find mutually acceptable approaches to legacy issues from the past and find ways to enhance bilateral and trilateral cooperation that will define the future. We believe it is possible to do both. And we’re going to work very hard, obviously, over the course of the next weeks and months to do so.

FOREIGN MINISTER YUN: (Via interpreter) I would just like to add (inaudible) regarding the relationship between Korea and Japan. Of course, with the new government we have made a lot of efforts to stabilize the relationship between Korea and Japan. But unfortunately, as the international society has seen, during the past few months, some Japanese political leaders have made a lot of historically incorrect remarks. And so these revisionist – historically revisionist remarks, as long as they last, till then it will be difficult to build trust between our two countries. And so these leaders must look at history as it is, and they must be very sincere. And we are always willing to dialogue with them.

And so they must make the efforts to create an environment conducive to dialogue. International society these days regarding the sexual slavery as well as the view on history is a matter of concern for international society. So they must listen to these concerns and must take the appropriate measures to correct the situation. This must be the foundation for the improved Korean-Japanese relations.

MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) Next from (inaudible).

QUESTION: (Via interpreter) Yes, my name is (inaudible). I would first of all like to ask Secretary Kerry regarding the Korea-Japanese relationship, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Chuck Hagel, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said that the Senkaku Islands are part of the defense treaty. But does the Dokdo – are the Dokdo Islands also part of the defense treaty? And also, last October, there were some tensions and when the Prime Minister Abe visited the Shinto shrine, so this seemed to negate history. So how do you evaluate such actions by the prime minister of Japan? And when Barack Obama visits Japan and Korea, do you think that he will try to mediate the relations between Korea and Japan?

And to Minister Yun, there have been a lot of reports about unofficial contacts with Japan, so – and there’s a lot – there are a lot of talks that this is not encouraging for the tripartite relations. So what are your comments?

SECRETARY KERRY: So three questions there, I think. On the Senkaku Islands, I agree with the statement of Secretary Clinton and I agree with the statement of Secretary Hagel. And that is the position of the United States with respect to those islands.

With respect to the prime minister’s visit, we’ve spoken out. I think that we made clear that we had a difference of opinion with respect to the judgment about the visit, and that was made clear at the time. And I don't think we need to dwell on it now.

Which brings me to the essence of your question, which is this notion of an effort to mediate between the parties and will President Obama do that. Frankly, we hope that this issue will not be outstanding in a way that requires the President to do that. We need to be doing it now. We don’t want to wait until President Obama is here, obviously, to get moving in a direction that helps to deal with this. So as I said earlier, I’ve already been engaged with Foreign Minister Kishida. I was engaged today with President Park and with Foreign Minister Yun. And I will continue, together with our Ambassador, with the Foreign Minister, with our Assistant Secretary of State Mr. Russel, and others – we will be engaged in this over the next days and weeks. And our hope is that it will be possible to try to find a way forward.


But we also have, frankly, issues of enormous current pressing concern that deal with security and that are relevant in terms of today, not in terms of history. And it is vital for us to be able to continue to stay focused on the high stakes, in terms of everybody’s lives right now, of those issues. And we intend to continue to make certain that we’re paying adequate attention to those priorities, even as we deal with this legitimate concern about the past. And we will do so.

FOREIGN MINISTER YUN: (Via interpreter) Yes, so regarding contacts between North Korea and Japan, recently there have been quite a lot of reports about such contacts. But Japan has not officially said anything about these reports, and so I myself am not in a position to talk about that.

But if there are such contacts, then I think that since they are part of the Six-Party Talks, I think that this might impact the talks between the other members of the Six-Party Talks, and I don't think it will be very helpful or conducive for those – for the talks.

QUESTION: (Via interpreter) One point that I would like to ask again to Secretary Kerry regarding the defense treaty or for the Dokdo Islands, do you believe that it’s part of the defense treaty between Korea and the U.S.?

SECRETARY KERRY: The – which island? I’m sorry. I can’t hear you.

QUESTION: (Via interpreter) The Dokdo Islands. In the mutual defense treaty between Korea and the U.S., how do you view Dokdo Islands?

SECRETARY KERRY: I think we have answered that previously, and we have affirmed that it is.

MS. PSAKI: The final question will be from Michael Gordon of The New York Times.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, last April during a visit to Beijing, you sought China’s cooperation in persuading North Korea to commit itself to denuclearization. But since then, as you’ve noted, North Korea’s nuclear program has continued to advance and economic ties between China and the North continue to be substantial. Now almost a year later, you’re headed back to Beijing to make the same appeal again. What specifically do you want the Chinese leadership to do with regard to North Korea? And why realistically should one expect the Chinese leadership to put sufficient pressure on North Korea to reverse course on the nuclear front? Why would one expect China to elevate its concerns about the nuclear issues over its historic focus on stability, since that really didn’t occur over the past year? And if that isn’t going to happen, should the Obama Administration review an adjusted strategy?

And then a question for both, for the Minister and Mr. Secretary Kerry: Pertaining to developments in North Korea, do you see the execution of Kim Jong-un’s uncle as a indication that Kim Jong-un is consolidating power or as an indication of instability in the regime? Thank you.

SECRETARY KERRY: Well, Michael, you are correct in that I did raise it when I was there before. And I’m obviously going to be talking about it again. But I don't think it is correct to make an assumption that the situation is anywhere near what it was when I came here last year. When I came here last year, I arrived, I think, on a weekend, during which time North Korea was still publicly rattling the saber, making threats, and poised to test. And we were in a very tense moment where there had been a series of tests, of provocations. The United States had responded with a deployment of Aegis destroyer and a THAAD system to Guam. And there was a sense of potential conflict in the air of immediacy. And with that visit to China and China’s assumption of some initial steps, which they did take, that quieted down. That changed, and there has been a change over the course of this last year.

Now, notwithstanding that change, and not withstanding real steps that China has taken, we still find a reluctant North Korea, an unwilling North Korea, a stubbornly resistant North Korea to taking the steps that are necessary to move towards denuclearization and have real talks about the future. The fact is, the United States and China agree on the fundamental importance of a denuclearized North Korea. There is no question of that.

But China has a unique and critical role that it can play due to its economic, its geographic, its political, and its historical, cultural ties with North Korea. No country has a greater potential to influence North Korea’s behavior than China, given their extensive trading relationship with the North. As we know, all of the refined fuel that goes into move every automobile and every airplane in North Korea comes from China. All of the fundamental rudimentary banking structure that the North has with the world passes through China. Significant trade and assistance goes from China to North Korea.

So China has enormous ability to be able to have an impact here, and tomorrow my instructions from President Obama are to sit with the Chinese leadership and make the case that we cannot wait till the North has either gone so much further in its program that it’s even more complicated to deal with, or created a provocation that incites a response that creates even greater problems of security. So our belief is that China can do more now to urge North Korea to begin taking action to come into compliance with its international obligations. And I will encourage China to use all of the means at its disposal to do so.

Now, I want to make it clear: China has responded. China has done positive things. China is very concerned about what has happened with Chang Sung-taek and the purge. I think there are leaders in China deeply upset by the reluctance of Kim Jong-un to receive an envoy and to engage in serious dialogue, and the reluctance even to respond to very clear urgent needs to create stability on the peninsula and in the region that would come from a legitimate denuclearization effort.

So there is more that China can do. But even as I say that, this is not just about what China does, this is about what all of the Six-Party partners are prepared to do in order to try to move this issue once and for all. So we are hopeful that we can – as we did with Iran sanctions and as we have in other efforts – ratchet up the effort at this point in time, as appropriate, to the reluctance of the North to yet respond adequately.

FOREIGN MINISTER YUN: (Via interpreter) Yes, as I mentioned in my opening statement, recently, as we saw in Iran, there is consolidation regarding the positions of the international society and that position will help in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue. So I believe that coordination and cooperation in the international society is very important. So Korea and the U.S., together with China, will work together. And we are doing so right now for the denuclearization.

As was mentioned earlier, we are against additional nuclear tests and we are taking several steps, and this has been evaluated constantly in international society. So we will continue to work so that we will have true denuclearization in North Korea. And we will, on the one hand, have dialogue, and also at the same time we will work with the UNSC, the UN Security Council, to have resolutions against and sanctions against North Korea. And so we will work with a two-track strategy and in that way we hope that we will be effective and that we will have denuclearization of North Korea. And we must not have talks for talks’ sake. This is a position that I am keeping.

Regarding the execution of Chang Sung-taek, whether it’s consolidation or instability of the North Korean regime, well, this can be viewed from various aspects. During the past two years in North Korea there have been a lot of changes in the military of North Korea. And so in the short term, it may appear to mean control of the military. But to what extent this will have momentum, I don't think that anybody can say. But the public execution of the Chang Sung-taek, the way that it is viewed by countries around North Korea, leans towards instability. So the instability is greater than at any other time in the past. That’s the general view of what is happening in North Korea. And so in the future, how this will impact its foreign affairs, how it will impact its relations with other country, not only with the South Korea but also with the U.S., this is something that we must work on and act accordingly.

MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) This will conclude the joint press conference of the R.O.K., U.S. foreign ministers. Thank you, the two ministers, for your very precise answers to the questions. Thank you.


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