H. Res. 1149 
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
December 11, 2018. 
Whereas the United States Armed Forces and South Korean 
troops fought together to defend the Korean peninsula 
from Communist aggression before the Korean Armistice 
Agreement was signed in 1953, and the United States of 
America and the Republic of Korea have continued this 
camaraderie since signing the Mutual Defense Treaty Be-
tween the United States and the Republic of Korea that 
same year; 
Whereas the Republic of Korea is a model for alliance bur-
den-sharing, currently hosting 28,500 American active- 
duty military personnel, funding fifty percent of the total 
non-personnel costs of the U.S. troop presence on the Ko-
rean peninsula, fielding the world’s seventh-largest mili-
tary, and spending over 2.5 percent of its gross domestic 
product on defense; 
Whereas the Republic of Korea is among the closest allies of 
the United States, having contributed troops in support 
of United States operations during the Vietnam war, 
Gulf war, and operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, while 
also supporting numerous United Nations peacekeeping 
missions throughout the world; 
Whereas United States forces on the Korean Peninsula are 
critical not only to the security of the Republic of Korea
•HRES 1149 EH 
but also to protect against adversaries that threaten re-
gional stability and the United States homeland; 
Whereas the U.S.-ROK Combined Forces Command is the 
most integrated and effective combined military command 
in the world and, taken together with the United Nations 
Command, has formed a structure that has provided ef-
fective defense and deterrence on the Korean Peninsula 
for decades; 
Whereas North Korea has the world’s fourth-largest military, 
in addition to potentially as many as 60 nuclear weapons 
and between 2,500 and 5,000 metric tons of chemical 
weapons; 
Whereas the United States supports the Republic of Korea’s 
efforts at peace and reconciliation on the Korean Penin-
sula and recognizes the critical importance of close policy 
coordination between Washington and Seoul; 
Whereas in February 2017, a United Nations investigatory 
body confirmed that North Korea attempted to sell key 
materials for constructing miniaturized nuclear warheads, 
and found that ballistic missile cooperation between Iran 
and North Korea was ‘‘significant and meaningful’’; 
Whereas the United States and South Korea share a commit-
ment to democracy, human rights, and free market prin-
ciples, as laid out in the 2009 U.S.-ROK Joint Vision 
Statement as the foundation for a 21st century ‘‘strategic 
alliance’’ based on shared values; 
Whereas the Republic of Korea actively contributes to peace-
keeping, cybersecurity, non-proliferation, overseas devel-
opment assistance, climate change mitigation, counterter-
rorism, and post-conflict stabilization;
•HRES 1149 EH 
Whereas the Republic of Korea suffered economic retaliation 
from China for installing the United States Theater High 
Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) ballistic missile defense 
system, a measure necessitated by North Korea’s nuclear 
and ballistic missile belligerence; 
Whereas Korea is the world’s eleventh-largest economy and 
the sixth-largest goods trading partner of the United 
States, and creates bilateral trade and investment which 
supports 400,000 American jobs; 
Whereas the United States is the largest foreign direct inves-
tor in the Republic of Korea, and Korean investment in 
the United States is increasing; 
Whereas the Republic of Korea evolved from authoritarian 
governance to a vibrant, model democracy that embraces 
human rights and the rule of law in a region increasingly 
challenged by authoritarianism, which stands in stark 
contrast to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, 
which commits human rights violations ‘‘that do not have 
any parallel in the contemporary world’’ according to a 
2014 United Nations report; 
Whereas the Republic of Korea has become a key stakeholder 
and an active and constructive participant in various 
international organizations, including the United Nations, 
G–20, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Devel-
opment, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, Asso-
ciation of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum, 
International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World 
Trade Organization; 
Whereas Korean American Day commemorates the first ar-
rival of Koreans to the United States in 1903 and honors 
the great contributions of Korean Americans across all
•HRES 1149 EH 
aspects of society, which will only continue to grow as 
this population now numbers nearly two million citizens 
and as Korean students constitute the third-largest 
source of foreign students in the United States; and 
Whereas the Korean-American community remains one of the 
most important bridges between the Republic of Korea 
and the United States and has helped foster deeper ties 
between the two nations: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes that the United States-Republic of 
Korea alliance serves as a linchpin of regional stability 
and bilateral security, and exemplifies the broad and 
deep military, diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties 
shared between the United States and the Republic of 
Korea; 
(2) reiterates that the Republic of Korea and the 
United States share an interest in the continued 
strength of the bilateral alliance, and in further deep-
ening the bilateral relationship; 
(3) emphasizes that the United States-Republic of 
Korea alliance remains not only a bulwark for peace and 
stability in Northeast Asia, but also an exemplar of 
democratic values, free market principles, commitment 
to universal human rights, and the rule of law through-
out the Indo-Pacific and globally; 
(4) reaffirms the need for the United States and 
the Republic of Korea to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in
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continuing to apply the economic and financial pressure 
necessary to help peacefully end the Democratic People’s 
Republic of Korea’s dangerous nuclear and missile pro-
grams; and 
(5) emphasizes that, regardless of the outcome of 
attempted negotiations with the Democratic People’s Re-
public of Korea, the United States-Republic of Korea al-
liance will continue to deter, defend against, and defeat 
any outside aggressors, uphold the peace, and guard the 
prosperity built by our two nations. 
Attest: 
Clerk.