President Yoon Suk Yeol on Aug. 15 delivers a congratulatory speech at a ceremony for the 78th Liberation Day at Welch-Ryang Auditorium of Ewha Womans University in Seoul's Seodaemun-gu District. (Office of the President)

By Park Hye Ri

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Aug. 15 said "We must properly remember those who gave their all to defend the freedoms of our people; to bring independence to our country; and to uphold universal values. Remembering and honoring them in the right way is vital and essential for the national identity and continuity of the Republic of Korea."

He said this in a congratulatory speech at a ceremony for the 78th Liberation Day at Welch-Ryang Auditorium of Ewha Womans University in Seoul's Seodaemun-gu District.

"Our independence movement was to build a nation that is free and democratic; a nation where the people are its rightful owners; and a nation where freedom, human rights and the rule of law reign supreme," President Yoon said. "Thus, from the perspective of the whole humankind, our independence movement was universal and just."

"Even after regaining sovereignty, our independence movement carried on. We fought to defend our nation's freedom against communist aggression. We achieved industrial and economic development and democratization," he added. "Inheriting the spirit of our independence movement, we now envision a global pivotal state that fulfills its roles and responsibilities in the international community for the freedom, peace and prosperity of global citizens."

Likening the movement to a "journey as a quest for freedom," President Yoon said this trip continues through security cooperation among Korea, the U.S., and Japan, which share liberal democratic values. 

"The ROK (Republic of Korea)-U.S. alliance, forged from universal values, is an alliance of peace and prosperity," he said, "Korea and Japan are now partners who share universal values and pursue common interests."

Noting the growing importance of security cooperation among the three sides on the Korean Peninsula and in the region, he said, "In order to fundamentally block North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, the Republic of Korea, the U.S. and Japan must closely cooperate on reconnaissance assets and share North Korea's nuclear weapons and missiles data in real time."

President Yoon called the trilateral summit slated for Aug. 18 "a new milestone in trilateral cooperation contributing to peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific region" He also emphasized stronger cooperation with NATO, saying, "The Republic of Korea's security is very much aligned with the security of the Indo-Pacific region, the Atlantic, Europe and the world."

Turning to inter-Korean ties, he said, "While steadfastly implementing the 'Audacious Initiative' to build peace by overwhelming force, the government will also work together with the international community to make the North Korean regime stop advancing its nuclear and missile programs and embark on a path to dialogue and cooperation, which will lead to better livelihoods of its people."

hrhr@korea.kr