South Korean leader thanks Congress for free-trade vote

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Thursday thanked a joint meeting of Congress for approving the U.S.-Korea free-trade agreement (FTA) and said his country would hold to its labor and environmental commitments, a nod to Democrats who were more divided on the pact.

“The tariff reductions and many fair labor provisions, rigorous environmental standards, and strong protections for intellectual property rights will be beneficial for all of us,” Lee said through an interpreter. “These provisions will improve our business environment, these provisions will allow us to widely share the benefits of trade, more than ever.”

{mosads}Lee stressed that his aim is to pursue “green” economic growth.

“In this 21st century, I firmly believe that economies must be green to grow,” he said. “This why we required our biggest carbon-emitting companies to set greenhouse targets this year, and they will of course work to deliver on this promise.”

“The Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement will be able to ensure continued growth and also create jobs,” he added. “This is a win for our corporations, it is a win for our workers, a win for small business, and a win for all innovators on both sides of the Pacific.”

Lee spoke just one say after Congress approved the trade pact, by a 83-15 vote in the Senate and a 278-151 vote in the House. Approval capped a four-year delay in ratification that was due in large part to U.S. efforts to strengthen language in the agreement on U.S. auto exports to South Korea.

Lee did not speak to the notion of increased U.S. exports, but he did say a GM plant operating in South Korea is making progress increasing sales there.

“Sales are up 27 percent in just the first six months since the plant was launched, and 55 percent of Koreans say they would consider buying one,” Lee said.

More broadly, Lee stressed the importance of the mutual defense agreement between the U.S. and Korea, and specifically thanked the thousands of U.S. soldiers stationed in Korea to rousing applause from Congress. Lee also reiterated his goal of a reunified Korea.

“A unified Korea will be a friend to all and a threat to none,” he said. “A unified Korea will contribute to peace and prosperity not only in northeast Asia, but far beyond.

“We therefore must achieve the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. And North Korea must give up their nuclear ambitions,” Lee said. “North Korea’s development is in our collective interest, and this is what we want. However, this depends on its willingness to end all provocations and achieve genuine peace.”

Lee thanked the U.S. for defending South Korea in the Korean War, and specifically thanked Reps. John Conyers (D-Mich.), Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), Sam Johnson (R-Texas) and Howard Coble (R-N.C.) for their service in the Korean War. Lee ad-libbed to one of these veterans that he still looks like a “young boy.”

The South Korean president said the strong ties between the two countries go beyond the Korean war, and said both appreciate the entrepreneurial spirit, faith in free elections and press, “and yes, personally our love for fried chicken.”