Democracy is the absolute value that makes for human dignity, as well as the only road to sustained economic development and social justice.

To realize peace on the Korean peninsula, and to develop exchange, cooperation between both Koreas, they are the, you know, immediate target of our government.

You know, North Korea situation is far worse than East Germany, and South Korea is weaker than West Germany.

Well, that is very imperative to let North Korea open door to outside.

There is some sign that North Korea is changing recently. There is ongoing successful negotiation to have a military talk to Pyongyang, which has been stopped for seven years.

So such an American troops presence in Korea in the South and Japan, total some 100,000 should stay there forever, even after unification of Korean peninsula.

So South Korean ability is very much limited to handle North Korean, you know, difficulties. So we don't want to see an immediate collapse of the North Korea regime.

If America would withdraw from South Korea, there could be a power struggle between such as China and Japan.

So if North Korea continues present isolation, then with such economic difficulties the North Korean government must meet a very serious situation in the future.

I think a major cause of present Asian economic difficulties that mainly come from, you know, lack of market economy.

So in Asia I want to make - I want to succeed to make a model of what success, practicing democracy, and market economy. Then that will give a good influence over Asian countries.

History reveals there is no moral high ground

Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are great because of their passion.

Old age comes on suddenly, and not gradually as is thought.

I'm just really impressed by oil paintings - I don't see how people do it! That's the style I like: classic oil paintings. Abstract art just isn't my thing.

A typical vice of American politics is the avoidance of saying anything real on real issues.

Biography should be written by an acute enemy.

In the wake of the events of 11 September 2001, it now seems clear that the shock of the attacks was exploited in America.

Haiti, Haiti, the further I am from you, the less I breathe. Haiti, I love you, and I will love you always. Always.

Rhetoric is no substitute for reality.

The wise man is he who knows when and how to stop