Title: A resolution congratulating the Republic of Korea for hosting the 2018 Winter Olympic Games and supporting the alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Reaffirms the U.S. commitment to the Republic of Korea to support, participate in, and help ensure the security of the 23rd Olympic Winter Games.
Recognizes the importance of such games as a leading international sporting event that can contribute to peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula, in Northeast Asia, and around the world.
Reaffirms that the United States, the Republic of Korea, and other partners remain committed to pursuing the policy of maximum pressure and engagement toward the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
Expresses hope that the games will contribute to the decision by the DPRK to engage in negotiations that will result in complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
Wishes the Republic of Korea success in preparing for and hosting such games.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 384 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 384

   Congratulating the Republic of Korea for hosting the 2018 Winter 
Olympic Games and supporting the alliance between the United States and 
                         the Republic of Korea.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 29, 2018

   Mr. Gardner (for himself, Mr. Markey, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Merkley, Mr. 
Barrasso, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Young, Mr. Hoeven, 
 Mr. Boozman, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Duckworth, Ms. Warren, Mrs. Feinstein, 
   Ms. Hirono, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Coons, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Reed, and Mr. 
 Wicker) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Congratulating the Republic of Korea for hosting the 2018 Winter 
Olympic Games and supporting the alliance between the United States and 
                         the Republic of Korea.

Whereas the 23rd Olympic Winter Games (referred to in this preamble as ``Olympic 
        Winter Games PyeongChang 2018'') will be held from February 9 to 
        February 25, 2018, in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province in the Republic of 
        Korea;
Whereas the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 represents the second Olympic 
        Games hosted by the Republic of Korea;
Whereas the Republic of Korea hosted the Olympic Games for the first time in 
        Seoul in the summer of 1988;
Whereas the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 will feature--

    (1) 102 events across 15 disciplines; and

    (2) the participation of 93 National Olympic Committee teams;

Whereas the United States Olympic Team is expected to comprise approximately 240 
        athletes competing across all 15 disciplines;
Whereas the United States Olympic Committee is headquartered in Colorado 
        Springs, Colorado;
Whereas the Republic of Korea will also host in PyeongChang the 12th Paralympic 
        Games from March 9 to March 18, 2018 that will feature--

    (1) 80 events across 6 disciplines; and

    (2) the participation of approximately 42 National Olympic Committee 
teams;

Whereas the theme of the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 is ``Passion. 
        Connected.'' and refers to the vision of the Republic of Korea of a 
        world in which everyone is connected through a shared passion for winter 
        sports;
Whereas, on November 13, 2017, the United Nations General Assembly adopted by 
        consensus a resolution entitled ``Building a peaceful and better world 
        through sport and the Olympic ideal'';
Whereas that resolution expresses the expectation of the United Nations General 
        Assembly that ``PyeongChang 2018 will be a meaningful opportunity to 
        foster an atmosphere of peace, development, tolerance, and understanding 
        on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia'';
Whereas, on January 4, 2018, President Donald J. Trump and President Moon Jae-In 
        of the Republic of Korea discussed recent developments on the Korean 
        Peninsula and agreed that ``the United States and the Republic of Korea 
        are committed to a safe and successful 2018 Winter Olympic Games in 
        PyeongChang'';
Whereas President Trump conveyed to President Moon that ``the United States will 
        send a high-level delegation to the Olympics,'' which will be led by 
        Vice President Michael R. Pence and Second Lady Karen Pence;
Whereas President Trump and President Moon further agreed to ``de-conflict the 
        Olympics and our military exercises so that United States and Republic 
        of Korea forces can focus on ensuring the security of the Games'';
Whereas the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea 
        (referred to in this preamble as ``DPRK'') recently reopened a telephone 
        hotline ``to normalize the Panmunjom communications channel'' at the 
        Joint Security Area located in the Demilitarized Zone;
Whereas, on January 9, 2018, representatives of the Republic of Korea and the 
        DPRK held the first official talks in more than 2 years with the aim of 
        discussing cooperation during the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018;
Whereas the DPRK has indicated that it plans to participate in the Olympic 
        Winter Games PyeongChang 2018;
Whereas the DPRK is currently in violation of United Nations Security Council 
        Resolutions 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009), 2087 (2013), 2094 (2013), 2270 
        (2016), 2321 (2016), 2371 (2017), 2375 (2017), and 2397 (2017) that--

    (1) condemn the illicit nuclear and ballistic missile programs of the 
DPRK; and

    (2) impose economic sanctions against the DPRK and entities that enable 
the DPRK; and

Whereas the DPRK engages in gross human rights abuses against the citizens of 
        the DPRK and the citizens of other countries, including the United 
        States and the Republic of Korea: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) reaffirms the strong and unwavering commitment of the 
        United States to an ally, the Republic of Korea, to support, 
        participate in, and help ensure the safety and security of the 
        23rd Olympic Winter Games (referred to in this resolving clause 
        as ``Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018'');
            (2) recognizes the importance of the Olympic Winter Games 
        PyeongChang 2018 as a leading international sporting event of 
        genuine sportsmanship and fair play that can contribute to 
        peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula, in Northeast 
        Asia, and around the world;
            (3) reaffirms that the United States, the Republic of 
        Korea, and other partners remain committed to pursuing the 
        policy of ``maximum pressure and engagement'' toward the 
        Democratic People's Republic of Korea (referred to in this 
        resolving clause as ``DPRK''), including by fully abiding by 
        the letter and spirit of the resolutions of the United Nations 
        Security Council;
            (4) expresses hope that the Olympic Winter Games 
        PyeongChang 2018 will contribute to the decision by the DPRK to 
        engage in negotiations that will result in complete, 
        verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean 
        Peninsula; and
            (5) wishes every success in preparing and hosting the 
        Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 to the government and 
        people of the Republic of Korea and the PyeongChang Organizing 
        Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
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