1.
The recent visit to UK paid by Korean President and your visit to Korea are believed to have a profound significance. How do you evaluate this summit exchange of visit and the results of the visit by the Korean President to UK?
MT
The visit of your President to the United Kingdom was a striking success. He and I were able to have very thorough and extensive discussions of regional and international problems. I look forward to continuing these discussions during my own visit to the Republic of Korea, and to being able to consult the President on a number of the major issues which will be on the agenda of the Tokyo Economic Summit. More widely, President Chun 's visit helped to increase knowledge and understanding of Korea in the United Kingdom, and the members of his delegation were able to have some very useful discussions with our Ministers and officials, particularly on economic and commercial issues. Therefore, we have a very positive evaluation of his visit. I hope that my own will contribute equally to bringing our countries much closer together and that this will be reflected in concrete results in both the political and economic fields. [end p1]
2.
How do you assess the present relationship between UK and Korea?
MT
I would assess our relationship as one which is developing fast and becoming increasingly important to both sides. After all, when leaders from countries so remote geographically from each other exchange visits in the course of such a very few weeks, something must be on the move! I hope that the trend which President Chun and I have set will be followed right down the line, leading to closer consultation between our two countries on major international issues as well as an increase in trade. We have been enormously impressed by the pace of Korea's economic development. We feel that Britain can make a very substantial contribution to that development in crucial areas, including the supply of defence equipment. [end p2]
3.
What do you think most important to strengthen and to improve the relationship between the two countries? And what do you think are the obstacles, if any?
MT
We need to ensure that the momentum which President Chun and I have established is maintained and fully reflected in the contacts between our countries at all levels. We believe that the Republic of Korea wants to diversify its relations more towards Western Europe and towards the United Kingdom in particular. We should like to encourage that trend. You use the word ‘obstacles’. I do not see them although there are one or two problem areas—liberalisation of your market and copyright law—which we would like to see resolved. [end p3]
4.
The issue of Korean peninsula cannot be regarded as a local issue of Far East. This is a very important world issue because it is directly linked with world peace.
What is your opinion on this point of view?
MT
I agree. The Korean peninsula occupies a crucial geo-political position. This was an issue which President Chun and I discussed very thoroughly. British troops fought to preserve freedom in Korea in the early 1950s—indeed, I shall be visiting the site of one of their most heroic actions—and we and other Western countries have a very direct interest in seeing a reduction of tensions in the Korean peninsula. We support the efforts of your government to achieve this. [end p4]
5.
In view of the current pace of economic development in Korea, we anticipate that by 1988 the South Korean defensive power will have far exceeded that of North Korea. This means that North Korea will have few chances of military adventure after 1988, and we believe North Korea is well aware of this point.
And recently Soviet Russia has been increasing their military aid to North Korea.
We, therefore, believe that the next two to three years are most dangerous period for the stability of Korean peninsula. Would you support this point of view?
How do you analyse the security situation of Korean peninsula?
MT
I understand your concerns. Whatever the intentions of the North Koreans may be, I am sure it is wise for the ROK and UN Command Forces to maintain their alertness. But equally the maintenance of peace in the peninsula is a matter of concern for all, including the Soviet Union. We must all work for peace. As I have said we fully support the efforts of your Government in this direction. [end p5]
6.
We believe that the simultaneous admission to U.N. of North and South Korea and reciprocal exchange recognition by four big countries (U.S.A., Russia, China, Japan), whose interests are deeply engaged with Korean peninsula, may further the maintenance of peace in the land.
But unfortunately Soviet Union and China, allies of North Korea, are reluctant to accept these methods.
In this respect we believe that the diplomatic help of our friends like U.K. is most indispensible.
What is your opinion on this issue and in what way do you think U.K. is able to help Korea?
And is there any possibility that U.K. may recognize North Korea without reciprocal action by communist countries to Korea?
MT
As you may know, at the opening of the UN General Assembly last year the United Kingdom spoke in favour of the Korean people being represented in the United Nations. This remains our position. The United Kingdom has no plans to recognise North Korea. [end p6]
7.
Regarding above question, what do you think should be the role of the four neighbouring countries to maintain peace in Korean peninsula?
MT
I can certainly give you my view on what some of Korea's neighbours should do. I mentioned earlier my perception of the Soviet Union's interest in the maintenance of peace in the peninsula. China also, I think, has such an interest. Both countries should, and I hope are, using their links with North Korea to urge a peaceful resolution of the Korean problem. [end p7]
8.
Korean government has been exerting all possible efforts to continue talks with North Korea in order to prevent the recurrence of war in Korean peninsula. One of the important efforts is President Chun's proposal of North-South Korean summit meeting.
How do you assess the efforts like this by Korean government?
MT
The United Kingdom has consistently supported dialogue between Koreans as the means of seeking a solution to their longstanding problems. President Chun has long been a proponent of such a dialogue. I do not think that it is for me to suggest how the dialogue should be managed: the important thing is that it should continue and that the North should respond positively. [end p8]
9.
To prevent the recurrence of war in Korean peninsula is the very base of the national administration of Korean government and it is unseperably linked with security, economic development and politics of Korea.
What relations do you think exist realistically between the prevention of war and political development in Korea?
MT
Obviously the stability of the Republic of Korea is one of the prerequisites for the maintenance of peace. But stability does not imply lack of movement, and Korea's friends have welcomed the moves which have been made, in the face of considerable difficulties, towards full democracy in Korea. [end p9]
10.
President Chun has promised that he will step down when his term as president of Korea is over and has been emphasizing that the establishment of a tradition of peaceful power transition is most important to settle democracy in Korea.
How do you evaluate his will and effort for political development in Korea?
MT
I know that the change of leaders has proved a difficult process for Korea in the past. When the President was in London I took the opportunity of wishing him well in his determination to continue a stable constitution. [end p10]
11.
Korean government is working to diversify the nation's import sources and try to raise substantially Europe's share of Korea's import market. President Chun's recent visit to U.K. can be understood in that context.
How do you assess this effort of Korean government?
What do you expect from Korea regarding this effort, and particularly in what field do you wish to have cooperation of Korea?
MT
Within a global trading framework there are dangers in depending on too limited sources of supply. I am very pleased that the Korean Government has recognised that Europe has much to offer Korea: we now need to work together to deepen our knowledge of each other's strengths and to develop contacts of mutual benefit. The recent visit to Britain by the President and his Ministers and so many senior Korean businessmen made a most valuable contribution and I know that our businessmen are keen to follow up contacts and develop new ones in Korea. The Korean trade and investment mission planned for September will be followed, I hope, by many others in both directions. [end p11]
12.
What sorts of cooperation between U.K. and Korea are mostly needed to improve and to widen economic relationship between the two countries? And what do you think is the way to increase trade volume between the two countries?
MT
Britain and Korea are clearly agreed that we should work to strengthen the economic relationship between our countries. In trade there is scope for considerable growth and we hope to see the present volume of trade double by the 1990's. There are a number of sectors, such as automotive and marine equipment and chemicals, in which the UK has very much to sell of what Korea wishes to buy. As I have already said, there is great potential for developing closer industrial co-operation between companies. The Science and Technology Agreement recently concluded between our governments will provide further stimulus for commercially beneficial projects. I hope also to see greater investment develop in both directions in manufacturing, and also British investment in services as the financial markets in Korea develop. [end p12]
13.
I understand the U.K. government are not satisfied with the adverse balance of trade with Korea.
What do you specially expect from Korea to resolve this problem?
MT
We are very concerned that the balance of trade has for so long been running at about 2 to 1 in Korea's favour. For this deficit to be reduced British exporters must sell more to Korea. As the recent growth in our exports shows, many UK companies are doing just that. However, they do not find it easy, and many others are discouraged altogether by the difficulties of penetrating the market. The Korean government's programmes for liberalising imports and gradually reducing tariffs should be helpful, but the programmes need to be extended and speeded up. I would also like to be sure that the removal of restrictions on imports, particularly of consumer goods—a key UK interest—is going to be fully effective. I know that the Korean government, like that of the UK, favours a freer world trading system and the removal of protectionist barriers. We look to Korea to set a good example in opening up its markets in line with the growing strength of your economy. [end p13]
14.
Do you have a message to Korean people, who will give you a warm welcome in early May?
MT
An old Korean proverb says “What cannot be accomplished when the mind is concentrated?” . In a remarkably short space of time the people of the Republic of Korea have accomplished wonders. Their future is bright, although not without dangers. In the second century of relations between Britain and Korea I hope that our friendship will blossom and flourish. I look forward eagerly to my visit in May.