IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 612 

Recognizing and reaffirming the critical relationship between the United 

States and the Republic of Korea since the establishment of the Republic 

of Korea in 1948. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 9, 2017 

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina submitted the following resolution; which was 

referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the 

Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 

as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing and reaffirming the critical relationship between 

the United States and the Republic of Korea since the 

establishment of the Republic of Korea in 1948. 

Whereas the United States, still fatigued from World War II, 

witnessed a Soviet Union-supported North Korea that 

crossed the 38th parallel invading the Republic of Korea; 

Whereas only through the robust partnership of the United 

States and the Republic of Korea did they repel North 

Korean forces to north of the 38th parallel, establishing 

the Korean Armistice Agreement, and ending formal hostilities in 1953; 


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•HRES 612 IH 

Whereas the United States and the Republic of Korea have 

shared a strong alliance since the end of hostilities in 

1953 and entering into the Mutual Defense Treaty establishing the United States-Republic of Korea alliance; 

Whereas the Republic of Korea began an economic boom in 

the early 1960s as it recovered from the Korean War, 

pushing it high into the ranks of the largest industrialized nations in the world; 

Whereas the United States and the Republic of Korea have 

cooperated on the peaceful use and implementation of nuclear energy for almost 60 years; 

Whereas the United States and the Republic of Korea trade 

more than $145,000,000,000 a year in goods, services, 

and foreign direct investment to further bolster the 

economies of the two countries; 

Whereas the Republic of Korea is covered by the United 

States nuclear umbrella to aid in deterrence of any aggressors, further building on the alliance; 

Whereas the United States and the Republic of Korea have 

worked mutually on pressuring North Korea towards 

denuclearization; 

Whereas the United States and the Republic of Korea conduct 5 major training exercises and several dozen small 

unit exercises every year in preparation for continued 

provocations by North Korea; 

Whereas the Republic of Korea pays more than $800,000,000 

a year in support of United States military costs incurred 

due to the presence of 28,500 troops on the peninsula; 

Whereas the Republic of Korea has paid nearly 

$10,000,000,000 to build and expand Camp Humphreys 

for use by the United States; and 


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•HRES 612 IH 

Whereas the United States-Republic of Korea alliance is 

strong, and no matter the challenge, ‘‘we go together’’: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) reaffirms the importance of the United 

3 States-Republic of Korea alliance as a linchpin for 

4 security, stability, and prosperity on the Korean Pe5 ninsula, in the Asia-Pacific region, and beyond; 

6 (2) reinforces the longstanding United States 

7 commitments to defend the Republic of Korea to in8 clude providing a full spectrum of extended deter9 rence; 

10 (3) reaffirms the United States support for Re11 public of Korea forces and continued combined exer12 cises through the region and that the United States 

13 military presence in South Korea should not be in14 cluded or discussed in any potential negotiation with 

15 North Korea; 

16 (4) urges the Governments of the United States 

17 and the Republic of Korea to take the opportunity 

18 of President Trump’s upcoming state visit to the Re19 public of Korea to send a louder and clearer message 

20 to North Korea that any and all destabilizing provo21 cations will be met with a resolute response by the 

22 United States-Republic of Korea combined forces 

23 and that should North Korea instead take a step in 


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•HRES 612 IH 

1 the right direction, the United States, the Republic 

2 of Korea, and the international community are ready 

3 to present a brighter future; 

4 (5) recognizes that the United States-Korea 

5 Free Trade Agreement, one of the key pillars of the 

6 relations between the United States and the Repub7 lic of Korea, is mutually beneficial and has been con8 tributing to the alliance, and encourages the United 

9 States and the Republic of Korea to work together 

10 to resolve any outstanding issues through the bilat11 eral consultative process; and 

12 (6) encourages the Governments of the United 

13 States and the Republic of Korea to continue broad14 ening and deepening the alliance by enhancing co15 operation and building new partnerships in both the 

16 security and nonsecurity areas. 

Æ 


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