Tim Elder
August 16, 2012
Kook Jin Moon - April 10, 2011
[The following is the text of the Welcoming Remarks delivered by Mr. Kook Jin Moon to the Welcoming Banquet of the 2nd Conference of the Asia Security Initiative (Seoul, Korea, August 16-18, 2012). Participants came from 13 countries, including Korea, Japan, United States, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, India, Nepal and Australia.]
National Security experts from around the world; honored guests.
I would like to welcome you to the Second Asia Security Conference. It is particularly significant that we meet here in Seoul, the capital of Korea, at a time when East Asia is taking on central significance in the global security environment.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Economic development, political stability and prosperity, and advances in science and technology allow humanity today to live comfortably. The reality, however, is that we cannot be certain that this life will continue forever or that our happiness is guaranteed. Individuals, societies and nations live under the constant threat that our comfortable lives may be destroyed at any time.
Particularly in this globalized world, threats to security are too complex to be handled by any single country or international organization. There needs to be close cooperation among nations and international organizations. Policies concerning national security do not apply to any single country alone. Consequently, such policies must be developed and applied in the context of the international security environment and changes in relations among specific countries.
Ladies and gentlemen, during the twenty years following the end of the Cold War, Europe has maintained a stable security environment centering on NATO and America's security guarantee. Issues related to race, religion and a variety of other matters have arisen, but these have been dealt with swiftly through international crisis management, and the cooperative application of military power.
The situation in Asia is different. Although the Cold War regime has ended, the Korean peninsula remains divided and a sharp military confrontation continues. During the last five years, military tensions have reached their highest point. Also, China's challenge to America's military hegemony is creating tensions among the countries surrounding Korea.
Asia's security is characterized by insecurity and tensions that have the potential to explode in an instant and turn to ashes all the economic growth and civilized culture we have built up with our efforts. We have an urgent need for discussions in the areas of security and national defense aimed at resolving this problem.
Ladies and gentlemen, there needs to be greater communication to build peace in Asia, centering on the Korean peninsula. We have gathered here to open the first chapter in that communication. I am confident that this conference, by serving as an opportunity for such exchanges, will help to bring peace not only in Asia but in the entire world.
My father, the Reverend Sun Myung Moon, the King of Peace and the returning Lord, has always told me that peace is not a dream; that it is a vision that can be accomplished. I believe that we who are here in this room today can create the key to realizing that vision.
Thank you, again, for your participation in this conference. I hope much will be accomplished in this conference and that we will create a world of peace through militarily strong democracies.
Thank you.