The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
April 26, 2014

Remarks by President Obama to U.S. Troops and Personnel at U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan

 

United States Army Garrison Yongsan

Seoul, Republic of Korea

 

10:57 A.M. KST

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Well, hello, Yongsan!  (Applause.)  It is good to be back to Yongsan Garrison.  I want to thank one of our military’s most tested and trusted leaders for that outstanding introduction -- General Mike Scaparrotti.  (Applause.)  Now, I’ve been told -- I don’t know if you’ve heard this story -- that, years ago, Scap was actually an extra in a movie about the Battle of Inchon -- the turning point of the Korean War.  So it’s only fitting that after a career of proud service that’s taken him from West Point to Iraq to Afghanistan, he is now Commander of U.S. Forces Korea.  And we could not be prouder of his effort.   

He’s got a great partner in our other representative, Ambassador Kim, a proud Korean-American, for strengthening the rock-solid alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea.  Give Ambassador Kim a big round of applause.  (Applause.) 

All of you have helped keep this alliance the linchpin of security and stability in the Asia Pacific.  The 8th Army is in the house.  (Applause.)  The 7th Air Force is in the house.  (Applause.)  U.S. Naval Forces Korea.  (Applause.)  U.S. Marine Forces Korea.  (Applause.)  Special Operations Command.  (Applause.)  We’ve got our standing DOD civilians.  (Applause.)  And we have our wonderful U.S. Embassy staff are here as well.  (Applause.) 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  And the VA!

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Yes, good job, VA -- in the house! 

And I know we’ve got some outstanding spouses -- (applause) -- and family members, kids in the house.  And I want to thank you as well, because you bear the burdens of service as well -- whether it’s separation from a loved one, or transitioning to a new country.  And I just want you to know that America is grateful for your sacrifice and your service.

Now, President Park and I just attended a briefing led by General Scaparrotti with the Combined Forces Command.  And then I signed the guest book that sits on top of a table where the Korean War Armistice was signed.  And both of those moments drove home the truth that, after more than 60 years, our alliance is as strong as it has ever been and as effective as it has ever been. 

And nowhere is that more evident than in the professionalism and the interoperability of our militaries.  Even when Scap had to travel to Washington to testify before Congress last month, he was never more than a phone call or a teleconference away from Admiral Choi.  And that’s because our forces on duty here -- American and Korean -- are highly trained, closely coordinated, fit to fight tonight and every other night.  (Applause.)  

But obviously, in addition to dealing with the threat from North Korea, this is also an alliance that represents the incredible bonds between peoples.  So I know that you provided quick support in response to last week’s terrible ferry tragedy, because we understood when our friends are in trouble, America helps.  And our hearts are broken for our Korean friends, especially the loss of so many wonderful young people.  But we’re inspired by the tales of heroism and selflessness -- the young woman who tried to make sure everyone else had a lifejacket, even if it meant her own death; the man whose last words were, “I’m on my way to save the kids.” 

That’s why America will continue to support every rescue and recovery effort.  And it’s that spirit that allows this alliance to endure.  Katchi Kapshida.  We go together.  That’s what we’re about.  (Applause.)  That’s what we’re about.  That’s been our common commitment for more than 60 years, in good times and in bad.

It was 1950, just five years after the end of World War II, when Communist armies first crossed the 38th Parallel.  And at the time, many Americans couldn’t place Korea on a map.  But we knew -- as much as we had already given, as weary as we were of war -- that we had a stake in what happened here on the Korean Peninsula; that we had to roll back the tide of Communism; that as Americans, we had to stand with our South Korean friends. 

And then, in September, the Americans arrived.  The alliance we led with Korean troops landed in a surprise attack.  And all told, nearly 1.8 million Americans would join the fight those next few years.  The conditions were terribly difficult.  The combat was brutal.  The danger was close.  By the end, nearly 37,000 Americans would give their last full measure of devotion on this faraway soil, but not without pushing the invading armies back across the line they had dared to cross.

If you want to know what that hard-earned, long-defended victory looks like -- you look around this country, the Republic of Korea.  This country has risen from occupation and ruin, and become one of the most vibrant and open democracies in the world.  Seoul, the city that has sprung up around this garrison, leads one of the most advanced and dynamic economies in the world. 

When our veterans witness this nation’s progress; when our veterans come here and see this great and modern country for themselves, they can say with pride their efforts and their sacrifice was worth it.  They see the real results of what they’ve done -- a South Korea that is a world leader and a true partner in Asian security and stability.  They see a country like ours where children can not only have dreams, but those dreams are encouraged, and he or she can grow up to become Secretary General of the United Nations or President of the World Bank or even Ambassador from the U.S. to the country he was born in.

None of this was an accident.  Freedom is not an accident.  Progress is not an accident.  Democracy is not an accident.  These are things that have to be fought for.  You’re part of that legacy.  They must be won.  And they’ve got to be tended to constantly and defended without fail.  And here, on freedom’s frontier, they are -- by every man and woman who has served and stood sentinel on this divided peninsula. 

The 38th Parallel now exists as much as a contrast between worlds as it does a border between nations, between a society that’s open and one that is closed; between a democracy that is growing and a pariah state that would rather starve its people than feed their hopes and dreams.

That’s not the results of a war.  That's the results of the path that North Korea has taken -- a path of confrontation and provocation, and pursuing the world’s most dangerous weapons.  And I want to be clear:  The commitment that the United States of America has made to the security of the Republic of Korea only grows stronger in the face of aggression.  Our alliance does not waver with each bout of their attention-seeking; it just gains the support of the rest of the world.  

North Korea’s continued pursuit of nuclear weapons is a path that leads only to more isolation.  It’s not a sign of strength.  Anybody can make threats.  Anyone can move an army.  Anyone can show off a missile.  That doesn’t make you strong.  It does not lead to security, or opportunity, or respect.  Those things don't come through force.  They have to be earned.

And real strength is allowing an open and participatory democracy, where people can choose their own leaders and choose their own destiny.  And real strength is allowing a vibrant society, where people can think and pray and speak their minds as they please, even if it’s against their leaders -- especially if it’s against their leaders.  Real strength is allowing free and open markets that have built growing, thriving middle classes and lifted millions of people out of poverty.

We don't use our military might to impose these things on others, but we will not hesitate to use our military might to defend our allies and our way of life.  (Applause.)

So like all nations on Earth, North Korea and its people have a choice.  They can choose to continue down a lonely road of isolation, or they can choose to join the rest of the world and seek a future of greater opportunity, and greater security, and greater respect -- a future that already exists for the citizens on the southern end of the Korean Peninsula. 

If they choose this path, America and the Republic of Korea and the rest of the world will help them build that future.  But if they do not, they should know that the commitment of the United States of America to the security and defense of the Republic of Korea has not wavered once in more than 60 years.  It never has and it never will.

This alliance is special, forged on the battlefield, and it has been fortified by the common values and mutual interest and mutual respect of our peoples.  The United States and Korea are more than allies -- we are friends.  And this foundation of trust and security and stability that allows both our nations to thrive economically and socially is made possible by the service and sacrifice of every one of you -- our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, diplomats.  You are the tip of the spear on freedom’s frontier.  You carry high the legacy left by all those who fought and served here.  And to the family members, both here in South Korea and awaiting your return back home, I thank you for your service as well.

Because of that service, and the service of generations of servicemembers and diplomats, our country still stands, our founding principles still shine, and nations around the world that once knew nothing but bitter taste of fear now know the blessings of freedom.  That’s because of you.  I could not be prouder to be your Commander-in-Chief.  (Applause.)

And now I’m going to come down and shake some hands and thank you in person. 

God bless you.  God bless the Republic of Korea.  God bless the United States of America.  And God bless our alliance.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

                        END           11:11 A.M. KST

 

President Obama Speaks at a Business Roundtable

April 26, 2014 | 3:23 | Public Domain

President Obama delivers remarks at a roundtable meeting in the Republic of Korea encouraging business executives to invest in the United States.

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Remarks by President Obama at Business Roundtable

Grand Hyatt Hotel
Seoul, Republic of Korea

9:11 A.M. KST

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Well, I want to thank Jim Kim and the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea for hosting us.  And I'm very pleased to be meeting with these business leaders, both Korean and American, who have been in discussions with Michael Froman, our Ambassador for trade, as well as Caroline Atkinson, who is one of my senior advisors on international economics, because what we want to do is to underscore the fact that, as important as the security relationship and the alliance is between the Republic of Korea and the United States, what is also important is the incredible and growing economic ties that are creating jobs and opportunity in both countries.

I said yesterday with President Park that under the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, our trade has increased.  These business leaders know concretely what this means.  American companies are exporting more to Korea; Korean companies are exporting more to the United States.  So it’s a win-win for both countries. 

We also know that we still have some more work to do to fully implement the trade agreement and make sure that we're maximizing its benefits, that our companies can compete fairly in areas like autos and IT and organic foods.  And I discussed this with President Park last night.  We both agreed that these are issues we can work through together.  And given South Korea’s interest in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, fully implementing KORUS also is the single most important step that South Korea can take now to show that it’s prepared to eventually meet the high standards of TPP. 

And finally, we are joined by some outstanding Korean companies that are already invested in the United States and we want to thank them for their investments and the jobs that they’re creating back home. 

I just want to remind companies around the world that if you are looking for a great place to set up shop, come to the United States.  We've got outstanding workers, great universities, incredible productivity, great energy sources and a pretty big consumer market last I checked.  And you're also going to have a White House and federal government, but working with state and local governments, who are absolutely committed to making it easier for companies to invest in the United States.  And whether it's high skills that you're looking for, or productivity, our open economy, research and development, innovation, I think more and more companies realize it makes sense to locate in the U.S. And with our SelectUSA initiative, we’re making it easier to invest. 

So I just wanted to thank these leaders.  With that, I'm going to actually spend most of my time listening, but I look forward to all the suggestions or recommendations that are being provided by both the Korean and the U.S. business leaders, because I'm confident that this is going to be one of the key economic relationships of the 21st century.

Thank you so much, everybody.

END
9:15 A.M. KST 

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Weekly Address: Congress Needs to Act on Minimum Wage

Megan Slack
Megan Slack
April 26, 2014
06:00 AM EDT

In this week’s address, the President highlights small business owners across the country acting to raise wages for their workers, and calls on Congress to give America a raise so more hard-working Americans have the opportunity to get ahead.

Transcript | mp4 | mp3

Related Topics: Economy

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
April 26, 2014

Weekly Address: Congress Needs to Act on Minimum Wage

WASHINGTON, DC – In this week’s address, the President highlighted small business owners across the country acting to raise wages for their workers, and called on Congress to give America a raise so more hard-working Americans have the opportunity to get ahead.

The audio of the address and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.gov at 6:00 a.m. ET, Saturday, April 26, 2014. 

Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
The White House
April 26, 2014

Hi, everybody.  In my State of the Union Address, I talked about pizza.  More specifically, I talked about a pizza chain in Minneapolis – Punch Pizza – whose owner, John Soranno, made the business decision to give his employees a raise to ten bucks an hour.

A couple weeks ago, I got a letter from a small business owner who watched that night.  Yasmin Ibrahim is an immigrant who owns her own restaurant – Desi Shack – and plans to open another this summer. 

Here’s what she wrote.  “I was moved by John Soranno’s story.  It got me thinking about my … full-time employees and their ability to survive on $8 an hour in New York City.”  So a few weeks ago, Yasmin put in place a plan to lift wages for her employees at both her restaurants to at least $10 an hour by the end of this year. 

But here’s the thing – Yasmin isn’t just raising her employees’ wages because it’s the right thing to do.  She’s doing it for the same reason John Soranno did. It makes good business sense. 

Yasmin wrote, “It will allow us to attract and retain better talent – improving customer experience, reducing employee churn and training costs.  We believe doing so makes good business sense while at the same time having a positive impact on the community.”

Yasmin's right.  That’s why, two months ago, I issued an Executive Order requiring workers on new federal contracts to be paid a fair wage of at least ten dollars and ten cents an hour.

But in order to make a difference for every American, Congress needs to do something.  And America knows it.  Right now, there’s a bill that would boost America’s minimum wage to ten dollars and ten cents an hour.  That would lift wages for nearly 28 million Americans across the country.  28 million.  And we’re not just talking about young people on their first job.  The average minimum wage worker is 35 years old.  They work hard, often in physically demanding jobs. 

And while not all of us always see eye to eye politically, one thing we overwhelmingly agree on is that nobody who works full-time should ever have to live in poverty.  That’s why nearly three in four Americans support raising the minimum wage.  The problem is, Republicans in Congress don’t support raising the minimum wage.  Some even want to get rid of it entirely.  In Oklahoma, for example, the Republican governor just signed a law prohibiting cities from establishing their own minimum wage. 

That’s why this fight is so important.  That’s why people like John and Yasmin are giving their workers a raise.  That’s why several states, counties, and cities are going around Congress to raise their workers’ wages.  That’s why I’ll keep up this fight.  Because we know that our economy works best when it works for all of us – not just a fortunate few.  We believe we do better when everyone who works hard has a chance to get ahead.  That’s what opportunity is all about.

And if you agree with us, we could use your help.  Republicans have voted more than 50 times to undermine or repeal health care for millions of Americans.  They should vote at least once to raise the minimum wage for millions of working families.  If a Republican in Congress represents you, tell him or her it’s time to give the politics a rest for a while and do something to help working Americans.  It’s time for “ten-ten.”  It’s time to give America a raise. 

Thanks, and have a great weekend.

Weekly Address: Congress Needs to Act on Minimum Wage

April 26, 2014 | 3:56 | Public Domain

In this week’s address, the President highlights small business owners across the country acting to raise wages for their workers, and calls on Congress to give America a raise so more hard-working Americans have the opportunity to get ahead.

Download mp4 (146MB) | mp3 (4MB)

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
April 25, 2014

Remarks by President Obama at Business Roundtable

Grand Hyatt Hotel
Seoul, Republic of Korea

9:11 A.M. KST

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Well, I want to thank Jim Kim and the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea for hosting us.  And I'm very pleased to be meeting with these business leaders, both Korean and American, who have been in discussions with Michael Froman, our Ambassador for trade, as well as Caroline Atkinson, who is one of my senior advisors on international economics, because what we want to do is to underscore the fact that, as important as the security relationship and the alliance is between the Republic of Korea and the United States, what is also important is the incredible and growing economic ties that are creating jobs and opportunity in both countries.

I said yesterday with President Park that under the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, our trade has increased.  These business leaders know concretely what this means.  American companies are exporting more to Korea; Korean companies are exporting more to the United States.  So it’s a win-win for both countries. 

We also know that we still have some more work to do to fully implement the trade agreement and make sure that we're maximizing its benefits, that our companies can compete fairly in areas like autos and IT and organic foods.  And I discussed this with President Park last night.  We both agreed that these are issues we can work through together.  And given South Korea’s interest in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, fully implementing KORUS also is the single most important step that South Korea can take now to show that it’s prepared to eventually meet the high standards of TPP. 

And finally, we are joined by some outstanding Korean companies that are already invested in the United States and we want to thank them for their investments and the jobs that they’re creating back home. 

I just want to remind companies around the world that if you are looking for a great place to set up shop, come to the United States.  We've got outstanding workers, great universities, incredible productivity, great energy sources and a pretty big consumer market last I checked.  And you're also going to have a White House and federal government, but working with state and local governments, who are absolutely committed to making it easier for companies to invest in the United States.  And whether it's high skills that you're looking for, or productivity, our open economy, research and development, innovation, I think more and more companies realize it makes sense to locate in the U.S. And with our SelectUSA initiative, we’re making it easier to invest. 

So I just wanted to thank these leaders.  With that, I'm going to actually spend most of my time listening, but I look forward to all the suggestions or recommendations that are being provided by both the Korean and the U.S. business leaders, because I'm confident that this is going to be one of the key economic relationships of the 21st century.

Thank you so much, everybody.

END
9:15 A.M. KST 

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
April 25, 2014

President Obama Attends Roundtable With Korean Business Executives To Encourage Investment In United States

Today, President Barack Obama reaffirmed the commitment of the United States of America toward strengthening the economic relationship with the Republic of Korea and boosting investment, jobs and growth in the United States. During a roundtable discussion hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (“AMCHAM Korea”) and senior Korean business executives, President Obama spoke of the importance of the U.S. - Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) in strengthening bilateral trade ties. The President also made the case for additional investment in the United States, which will lead to high-quality, well-paying jobs for American workers. The business executives discussed why their companies chose to make significant investments in the United States and what might encourage them to invest more.  The Korean executives emphasized the attractiveness of the U.S. market as an investment destination for their companies, focusing on the skill sets that American workers have to offer.

SelectUSA and Korean Investment in the United States

The roundtable highlighted the SelectUSA initiative, which is one part of the Administration’s all-hands effort to spur more job-creating U.S. investment from around the world.  In 2011, President Obama launched SelectUSA, the first ever federal effort to partner with states and cities to promote inbound investment.  It also includes a deliberative effort to enhance coordination of federal agencies to cut red tape and support companies considering investments that create more American jobs.

The Korean executives praised the United States as one of the most open economies in the world for investment, offering strong rule of law, access to high-skilled labor, a tradition of research and development excellence, and abundant natural resources.  These facts have attracted Korean direct investment in United States, which has grown by nearly 75 percent since 2008 to a current total of $24.3 billion. 

Many of the companies represented at the roundtable have made recent investments in the United States, some of which have been supported by the President’s SelectUSA initiative.  Recent U.S. investments include:

  • In October 2013, Hanook Tire America, the U.S.-based subsidiary of South Korea-based tire manufacturer Hanook Tire Worldwide, announced an $800 million investment in its first U.S. production plant in Clarksville, Tennessee.  Tire production is expected to start in 2016.

  • In August 2012, Samsung Austin Semiconductor, owned by Samsung Electronics, announced its plans for a $4 billion expansion of its semiconductor plant in Austin, Texas.  Samsung's latest investment marks the largest single foreign investment ever made in the state of Texas.  The company's total investment in Samsung Austin Semiconductor since 1996 now exceeds $13 billion.

U.S. - Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA)

During the roundtable, President Obama and the Korean executives praised the role the KORUS FTA has played in strengthening bilateral economic ties.  The KORUS FTA is the most commercially significant free trade agreement the United States has concluded in almost two decades, and its impact has been immediate.  Since the KORUS FTA came into force in early 2012, two-way U.S.-Korea trade has increased and the U.S. International Trade Commission estimates that, when fully implemented, the reduction of Korean tariffs and tariff-rate quotas on goods alone will add $10 billion to $12 billion to annual U.S. Gross Domestic Product.

President Obama described the successful implementation of the KORUS FTA as critical to the U.S.-Korea economic relationship and a means to achieve President Park’s vision of a Korean economy that is business-friendly, with smarter regulation and stronger policies to promote innovation.  The KORUS FTA is the highest standard free trade agreement that either country has ever concluded to date and exemplifies the benefits of open markets.

In addition to the President, the AMCHAM Korea-hosted meeting attendees included:

  • James Kim, Chairman, AMCHAM Korea
    Country Manager, Microsoft Korea
  • Amy Jackson, President, AMCHAM Korea
  • Pat Gaines, President, Boeing Korea
  • David Ruch, Country Manager, United Airlines
  • Jae Jung, President, Ford Korea
  • John Kim, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs Korea
  • Han Duck-Soo, Chairman, Korea International Trade Association (KITA)
  • Huh Chang-Soo, Chairman, Federation of Korean Industries
    Chairman, GS Group
  • Park Yong-Maan, Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry
    Chairman and CEO, Doosan Corporation
  • Lee Kun-hee, Chairman of Samsung
  • Jay Y. Lee, Vice Chairman, Samsung Electronics
  • Chung Mong-koo, Chairman, Hyundai Motor
  • Cho Yang-rai, Chairman, Hankook Tire Company
  • Cho Yangho, Chairman and CEO, Korean Air Lines
    Chairman and CEO, Hanjin Group
  • Shin Dong-Bin, Chairman, Lotte Group
  • Bon Moo Koo, Chairman, LG Group
  • Michael Froman, United States Trade Representative
  • Caroline Atkinson, Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics
  • Wendy Cutler, Acting Deputy United States Trade Representative
  • Sung Kim, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea
  • Ahn Ho-Young, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the United States

President Obama's Bilateral Meeting with President Park Geun-Hye of The Republic of Korea

April 25, 2014 | 7:34 | Public Domain

President Obama and President Park Geun-Hye of The Republic of Korea make a joint statement to the media before their bilateral meeting at the Blue House in Seoul, South Korea.

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Remarks by President Obama and President Park of the Republic of Korea before Bilateral Meeting

Blue House
Seoul, Republic of Korea

4:21 P.M. KST

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  I would like to thank President Park for welcoming me here today.  I’m so grateful for the opportunity to come back to the Republic of Korea.  But I am very mindful that my visit comes at a time of deep mourning for the people of this nation and I know that President Park and the South Korean government are focused on responding to the tragedy of the ferry Sewol. 

In our press conference later, President Park and I will have the opportunity to address a range of issues that we’ll be discussing here today.  But for now, I just wanted to express on behalf of the American people our deepest sympathies for the incredible and tragic loss that's taken place.  As allies but also as friends, we join you in mourning the lost and the missing, and especially so many young people, students who represented the vitality and the future of this nation.

So, President Park, I thought that it would be appropriate and fitting for us to begin today by honoring the lost and the missing.  And our delegation, out of respect, would appreciate the opportunity to join together in a moment of silence.

(Moment of silence.)

PRESIDENT PARK:  (As interpreted.)  Mr. President, thank you so much for making this proposal to hold a moment of silence for the victims of the ferry Sewol.  Right after the tragic accident, you personally expressed your condolences and your sympathies, and you were unsparing in providing active U.S. assistance, including the dispatch of salvage vessels.  The Korean people draw great strength and courage from your kindness.

Just as the American people were able to rally together in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks and were able to prevail over difficult times, so, too, I am sure that Korean people will, in fact, pull through this moment of crisis and be able to achieve the renewal of the Republic of Korea.

Mr. President, my sincere welcome to you once again on your visit to Korea, and may our summit meeting today kick off the next 60 years and produce very meaningful results that allow us to do so.

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Well, thank you, President Park.  The Republic of Korea is one of our strongest allies in the world.  I’m looking forward to our discussion and to reaffirming America’s unshakeable commitment to South Korea and its security.

One last point I wanted to make -- I have with me this American flag that I believe our protocol people have.  In the United States, we have a tradition -- after the loss of our servicemembers and veterans, we present a flag in their honor to their loved ones.  This flag was flown over the White House the same day as the sinking of the Sewol.  And in that spirit, I'm presenting this American flag to you and the people of the Republic of Korea on behalf of the American people.  It reflects our deep condolences, but also our solidarity with you during this difficult time, and our great pride in calling you an ally and a friend.

PRESIDENT PARK:  (As interpreted.)  Mr. President, thank you so much again for sharing in our sorrow, the sorrow of the Korean people as well as the bereaved families, and for your gracious gesture.

END
4:30 P.M. KST

Close Transcript

New Report: Advancing America's Fuel Economy Standards

Dan Utech
Dan Utech
April 25, 2014
06:40 PM EDT

As part of the President's Climate Action Plan, this Administration has taken historic steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Our National Program for fuel efficiency standards has set increasingly stringent targets for greenhouse emission reductions for cars and light trucks. The program is expected to save consumers more than $1.7 trillion at the pump and reduce 6 billion metric tons of carbon pollution over the lifetimes of new vehicles – more carbon dioxide than the United States emitted in all of 2012.

Related Topics: Energy and Environment

Weekly Wrap Up: POTUS Meets a Robot, and More

Jonathan Friedman
April 25, 2014
06:15 PM EDT

This week, more than 30,000 guests stopped by the South Lawn for the 136th White House Easter Egg Roll; the President traveled to Japan and Korea for his fifth trip to Asia during his time in office; the First Lady and Dr. Biden announced that over half a million veterans and military spouses have been hired through Joining Forces; and more. Check out what else you may have missed in this week's wrap up.

The Eggs They Are a-Rollin'

Sports were played, books were read, and eggs were rolled on Monday as the President and the First Lady welcomed more than 30,000 guests to the South Lawn of the White House for the 136th White House Easter Egg Roll.

Watch on YouTube

See more from the Easter Egg Roll, and make sure to check out President Obama's inspired reading of "Where the Wild Things Are."

Related Topics: Arizona, Florida, Kentucky, Michigan, Texas