IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 126 

Encouraging reunions of divided Korean-American families. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 14, 2023 

Mrs. KIM of California (for herself, Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE, Mr. GOTTHEIMER, 

Mr. FOSTER, Ms. STRICKLAND, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. SHERMAN, Mrs. 

STEEL, Mr. BERA, Mrs. RADEWAGEN, Mr. CASE, Ms. TOKUDA, Mr. 

KEATING, Mr. KIM of New Jersey, Mr. CONNOLLY, and Mr. MCGOVERN) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Encouraging reunions of divided Korean-American families. 

Whereas the Korean Peninsula, with the Republic of Korea 

(in this resolution referred to as ‘‘South Korea’’) in the 

South and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (in 

this resolution referred to as ‘‘North Korea’’) in the 

North, remains divided following the signing of the Korean War Armistice Agreement on July 27, 1953; 

Whereas the division of the Korean Peninsula separated more 

than 10,000,000 Korean family members, including some 

who are now citizens of the United States; 

Whereas there have been 21 rounds of family reunions between South Koreans and North Koreans along the border since 2000; 


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•HRES 126 IH 

Whereas Congress signaled its support for family reunions 

between United States citizens and their relatives in 

North Korea in section 1265 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110– 

181), signed into law by President George W. Bush on 

January 28, 2008; 

Whereas most of the population of divided family members in 

the United States, initially estimated at 100,000 in 2001, 

has significantly dwindled as many of the individuals 

have passed away; 

Whereas the summit between North Korea and South Korea 

on April 27, 2018, has prioritized family reunions; 

Whereas the United States and North Korea have engaged 

in talks during 2 historic summits in June 2018 in 

Singapore and February 2019 in Hanoi; and 

Whereas many Korean Americans are waiting for a chance to 

meet their relatives in North Korea for the first time in 

more than 60 years: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) calls on the United States and North Korea 

3 to begin the process of reuniting Korean-American 

4 divided family members with their immediate rel5 atives through ways such as— 

6 (A) identifying divided families in the 

7 United States and North Korea who are willing 

8 and able to participate in a pilot program for 

9 family reunions; 


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•HRES 126 IH 

1 (B) finding matches for members of such 

2 families through organizations such as the Red 

3 Cross; and 

4 (C) working with the Government of South 

5 Korea to include American citizens in inter-Ko6 rean video reunions; 

7 (2) reaffirms the institution of family as in8 alienable and, accordingly, urges the restoration of 

9 contact between divided families physically, literarily, 

10 or virtually; and 

11 (3) calls on the United States and North Korea 

12 to pursue reunions as a humanitarian priority of im13 mediate concern. 

Æ 


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