Kim Young-sam

“I don't think the current regime of South Korea will deal actively with the issue of North Korean defectors.”

“All of North Korea is a jail.”

“To Koreans on the other side, we care about your freedom.”

“Once a major military confrontation occurs, North Korea will definitely be annihilated.”

“The blood and sweat shed by United States and United Nations troops proved to be the prime mover behind the realisation of freedom throughout the post-war period.”

“The stark reality facing us today is that without the labour reforms, workers will get neither the income nor jobs in the face of cut-throat global economic competition.”

“In my day, the president ruled with authority before the law, but now all that is lost.”

“I feel very sorry for the one or two North Korean defectors who were caught by Chinese police while entering South Korean or foreign embassies in Beijing, but their arrest drew the whole attention of the world.”

“It's very certain that North Korea is developing nuclear weapons for offensive purposes. They don't need nuclear weapons to defend their own country.”

“No doubt it was better to have become president than not.”