IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 410 

Encouraging reunions of divided Korean-American families. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 30, 2019 

Ms. BASS (for herself, Mr. PASCRELL, Mr. SHERMAN, Ms. CLARKE of New 

York, Mr. CONNOLLY, Mr. SABLAN, Ms. JUDY CHU of California, Ms. 

MENG, Mr. KHANNA, Mr. RASKIN, Mr. CISNEROS, and Mr. KIM) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Encouraging reunions of divided Korean-American families. 

Whereas the Republic of Korea (in this resolution referred to 

as ‘‘South Korea’’) and the Democratic People’s Republic 

of Korea (in this resolution referred to as ‘‘North 

Korea’’) remain divided since the armistice agreement 

was signed 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; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
2 

•HRES 410 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 within 60 days of the adoption of this resolu6 tion through ways such as— 

7 (A) exchanging information of divided fam8 ily members in the United States and North 

9 Korea who are willing and able to participate in 

10 a pilot program for family reunions; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
3 

•HRES 410 IH 

1 (B) finding matches for members on the 

2 divided family member registry through organi3 zations such as the Red Cross; and 

4 (C) working with the Government of South 

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

7 (2) reconfirms 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, delinked as much as possible from 

14 conflict, before attempts at or achievement of nor15 malized relations are made. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS