[Full Text] President Moon: "The Beginning of Peace on the Korean Peninsula is a Declaration of the End of War"

75th United Nations General Assembly Keynote Speech

President Moon Jae-in delivered a keynote speech via video at the 75th United Nations General Assembly held at the UN Headquarters in New York, USA, on the morning of the 23rd (Korean time).

President Moon Jae-in emphasized the importance of a declaration to end the Korean War to the international community in his fourth keynote speech at the United Nations General Assembly since taking office.

On the 23rd (local time in the U.S., the 22nd), President Moon delivered a video keynote speech at the 75th UN General Assembly held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, urging, "Through a declaration to end the war, the UN and the international community should unite their efforts to advance toward an era of reconciliation and prosperity."

In this speech themed "International Cooperation with Enhanced Inclusiveness," President Moon introduced South Korea's successful response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as made possible by multilateralism combined with Korea's communal spirit, a new practice called "freedom for all," and emphasized the necessity of practicing "multilateralism for shared prosperity," that is, "international cooperation with enhanced inclusiveness."

President Moon also stated that to guarantee equitable access to vaccines and treatments for all countries, international organizations should pre-purchase sufficient quantities of vaccines through international fundraising so that benefits can also reach impoverished and developing countries.

Furthermore, to strengthen inclusiveness leading to a sustainable economic structure, President Moon stressed the need to break the formula that "crisis deepens inequality" and realize an "economic recovery that leaves no one behind."

Additionally, President Moon emphasized that to succeed in addressing climate change, international cooperation with enhanced inclusiveness is essential, and since developing countries undergoing industrialization cannot catch up with developed countries in a short period, developed countries must acknowledge the gap with developing countries, make greater efforts, and find the best solutions.

Below is the full text of the speech.

◆ President Moon Jae-in’s Keynote Speech at the 75th UN General Assembly

< "International Cooperation with Enhanced Inclusiveness: Freedom for All" >


Mr. President, Secretary-General, and distinguished representatives of all countries,

Humanity has overcome countless crises to achieve the civilization we have today. Although we are currently facing the COVID-19 crisis, humanity will achieve remarkable progress tomorrow that is different from today.

I sincerely extend my condolences to those who have lost their lives and their families due to COVID-19, and to all those around the world fighting illness. I also express my gratitude to the medical personnel, quarantine workers, and international organization officials dedicating themselves to protecting human health.

This 75th UN General Assembly will be a session that overcomes an unprecedented crisis. I congratulate President Volkan Bozkır on his inauguration and greatly look forward to his outstanding leadership.

I pay tribute to Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres, who is devoted to resolving numerous global issues such as peace, economy, environment, and human rights, beyond infectious diseases.

Mr. President,

The COVID-19 crisis we face is completely changing human daily life and transforming the global economy and international order. Like the pioneers who founded the UN 75 years ago, it is time for us to gather wisdom again to determine the path we must take in this era of great transformation.

South Korea adopted the core democratic values of "openness," "transparency," and "democracy" as the three principles of quarantine, and all citizens became agents of quarantine. Multilateralism also combined with Korea’s communal spirit to enable a new practice called "freedom for all." The Korean people protected their neighbors’ safety for their own safety.

The Korean government has not closed its borders but shared quarantine supplies, expanding the scope of "neighbors" beyond borders to protect both quarantine and the economy. Ultimately, the strength enabling Korea to overcome COVID-19 today lies in the values humanity has created and the values the UN has upheld. The answer to overcoming COVID-19 is not far away. It is to return to the fundamental spirit of the UN Charter, a belief in "universal human values," and to begin more inclusive cooperation through "multilateralism."

The pioneers founded the UN dreaming of a "better world" and left a brilliant legacy of promoting universal human values. Now, the post-COVID UN must further spread "universal human values" to solve global challenges such as health cooperation, economic cooperation for sustainable development, and climate change response. The war against COVID-19 waged by countries this year has clearly shown that no country can overcome the crisis alone or without consideration for its neighbors.

Today, I want to emphasize multilateralism for shared prosperity, "international cooperation with enhanced inclusiveness," as the new role of the UN in the post-COVID era.

Mr. President,

"International cooperation with enhanced inclusiveness" means enjoying freedom and prosperity together without excluding anyone. Domestically, it means resolving inequality to guarantee my safety and sustainable development together with neighbors, and internationally, it means cooperating by considering the circumstances and conditions of neighboring countries for common prosperity.

Above all, "human life and safety" are paramount. The UN’s "inclusive multilateralism" will surely be first tested by whether all countries can be supplied with COVID-19 vaccines. Not only international cooperation for vaccine and treatment development but also ensuring "equitable access" for each country after development must be guaranteed. Through international fundraising, international organizations should pre-purchase sufficient vaccines so that impoverished and developing countries can also benefit.

South Korea actively participates in the World Health Organization and Gavi’s "COVAX Facility." As the host country of the International Vaccine Institute, South Korea will actively cooperate in developing and distributing affordable vaccines for developing countries. Given ongoing concerns about second and third waves of COVID-19, South Korea will actively share its K-quarantine experience with the international community and continue to work together.

Like a tsunami following an earthquake, an "economic shock" is hitting us. The closure of borders for quarantine and the contraction of human and material exchanges make global economic recovery even more difficult. It is indeed a very challenging task, but we must catch both rabbits of "quarantine" and "economy" together. Even amid the COVID-19 crisis, we must strengthen multilateralism based on solidarity and cooperation and a rules-based free trade order.

South Korea has worked to maintain global supply chains and facilitate the movement of essential personnel such as businesspeople. South Korea will share its development experience with developing countries and actively participate in international efforts to achieve the UN’s "Sustainable Development Goals." To strengthen inclusiveness leading to a sustainable economic structure, we must break the formula that "crisis deepens inequality" and achieve an "economic recovery that leaves no one behind."

South Korea has embarked on a challenge called the "Korean New Deal." It is a comprehensive transformation of the Korean economy combining the Digital New Deal and the Green New Deal, a promise to move from an unequal society to an inclusive society. South Korea will cooperate with all countries to minimize the impact of COVID-19 and accelerate economic recovery, and actively participate in international cooperation for the "inclusive multilateralism" the UN pursues.

September 7th was the "International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies," adopted by the UN under South Korea’s leadership. As human daily life paused, blue skies appeared worldwide, a "paradox of COVID-19" that shows hope that humanity can restore a blue planet through countries’ efforts and international cooperation. I hope international cooperation for a "better and greener recovery" centered on the UN will develop further.

South Korea actively participates in efforts to establish a new climate regime, including faithful implementation of the Paris Agreement. By the end of this year, South Korea plans to renew and submit its "Nationally Determined Contribution" for 2030 greenhouse gas reduction targets to the UN and prepare a "Long-term Low Carbon Development Strategy" to realize a "carbon-neutral society by 2050" together with the international community.

To succeed in addressing climate change, "international cooperation with enhanced inclusiveness" is essential. Developing countries undergoing industrialization cannot catch up with developed countries in a short period, which took them hundreds or tens of years. Developed countries must acknowledge the gap with developing countries, make greater efforts, and find the best solutions.

South Korea will actively participate in climate response as a "bridge between developed and developing countries" and faithfully share its experience with developing countries. The "P4G Summit" to be held in Seoul next year will be an occasion to reaffirm the importance of international solidarity for climate change response.

Mr. President,

The spirit of the UN, which seeks to realize world peace, is most urgently needed on the Korean Peninsula. South Korea has consistently pursued reconciliation between the North and South and has steadily worked for denuclearization and lasting peace on the peninsula. With the support and encouragement of the international community, South Korea successfully hosted the PyeongChang Winter Olympics as a Peace Olympics with North Korea, which was followed by three inter-Korean summits. The North Korea?U.S. summits, achieved through the bold decisions of the two leaders, confirmed that the peace process can advance through dialogue.

In my speech at last year’s UN General Assembly, I presented three principles to resolve the Korean Peninsula issue: "no war," "mutual security guarantees," and "shared prosperity," and also shared the idea of turning the Demilitarized Zone into an "International Peace Zone." However, peace on the Korean Peninsula remains unfinished, and the hopeful changes have been halted. Nevertheless, South Korea will continue dialogue. What we all need is to take one more step forward. I firmly believe that with continued support and cooperation from the international community, denuclearization and lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula can be achieved.

Above all, the South and North are a "community of life." They share mountains, rivers, and seas and are closely connected. They are exposed together to infectious diseases and natural disasters and must cooperate to overcome them. Quarantine and health cooperation will also serve as a starting point for dialogue and cooperation in achieving peace on the Korean Peninsula.

The world is now expanding the concept of security from traditional security that protects national territory to comprehensive security. We have been jointly responding to non-traditional security threats such as disasters, terrorism, and cybercrime, as well as international crimes, but the COVID-19 crisis, which threatens humanity more than war, has deepened our awareness that the safety of neighboring countries is directly linked to our own safety. It is now difficult for a single country to take full responsibility for comprehensive security. Cross-border cooperation is necessary to protect the peace of one country and the life of one person, and a multilateral security guarantee system must be established.

I have long spoken of a "peace economy" that benefits both North and South and enables them to live well together. I have also emphasized inter-Korean cooperation in disaster, emergency, and healthcare fields. Today, I hope the post-COVID Korean Peninsula issue will also be considered from the perspective of international cooperation with enhanced inclusiveness, and I propose a "Northeast Asia Quarantine and Health Cooperation Mechanism" involving North Korea, China, Japan, Mongolia, and South Korea. A cooperative body where multiple countries protect lives and guarantee safety will provide a foundation for North Korea to be guaranteed security through multilateral cooperation with the international community.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. It is time to end the tragic situation remaining on the Korean Peninsula. War on the Korean Peninsula must now be completely and permanently ended. Peace on the Korean Peninsula will guarantee peace in Northeast Asia and positively influence changes in the world order. I believe the beginning is the Korean Peninsula "declaration to end the war," where we can confirm our mutual will for peace. I ask the UN and the international community to unite their efforts so that through the "declaration to end the war," we can advance toward an era of reconciliation and prosperity. The "declaration to end the war" will be the gateway to a "permanent peace regime" along with denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.

South Korea wants to share not only K-quarantine but also the institutionalization of peace and its precious experience with the international community. This will be a way to lead and contribute to the UN’s efforts toward multilateral security and world peace.

Mr. President, Secretary-General, and distinguished delegations,

We have confirmed how closely connected the world is due to COVID-19, and ultimately humanity will move toward an "era of solidarity and cooperation." While preparing for the future, we must also change the present in which we live. Each small action by every individual will accumulate and gather to make our today free.

I hope the UN will become the center of a new era, "inclusive international cooperation," starting from this very moment.

Thank you.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.