An interesting piece of Congressional trivia worth checking. I have been told that the last head of state to address a joint session of Congress was President Lee thus two Korean heads of state will give back to back addresses. I am sure if it is true that it will be perhaps coincidence (with 2012 an election year there was probably no time for another head of state to address Congress) but it is also interesting and perhaps worth highlighting to show the strength of the ROK/US Alliance. (e.g., another action to attack the north's strategy to try to split the Alliance).
V/R
Dave
2013/04/24 05:28 KST
Park's speech to U.S. Congress to show strong alliance amid N. Korea's threats: Boehner
By Lee Chi-dong
WASHINGTON, April 23 (Yonhap) -- The upcoming speech by South Korean President Park Geun-hye in the U.S. Congress will provide a chance to demonstrate the strength of the alliance between the two nations amid North Korea's military threats, the leader of the House said.
"It will be my honor to welcome President Park to the United States Capitol next month,”House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) said in a statement. "Given the North Korean regime's recent provocative actions, President Park's address to Congress will serve as a vital and timely reminder that Americans and South Koreans will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder to preserve our hopes for peace and freedom."
Park plans to address a joint session of Congress on May 8 after holding talks with President Barack Obama at the White House.
She is scheduled to arrive in Washington on May 5 for her first overseas trip since taking office in February.
It comes as South Korea and the U.S. mark the 60th anniversary of their alliance this year.
U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, also noted the significance of Park's planned speech.
"America's close relationship with South Korea, forged 60 years ago during the dark days of the Korean War, remains strong and vibrant to this very day," he said in a separate statement.
On the 60th anniversary of the armistice of the 1950-53 war, he added, "I believe it is only fitting to bestow this high honor to Northeast Asia's first elected female head of state.
(Continued at the link below)
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