Title: A resolution welcoming the President of the Republic of Korea on his official visit to the United States and celebrating the United States-Republic of Korea relationship, and for other purposes.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Welcomes: (1) the President of the Republic of Korea, Moon Jae-in, on his first official visit to the United States; and (2) opportunities to strengthen security consultation, cooperation, and partnership on matters such as space, cyber, and missile defense.
Reaffirms the importance of: (1) the U.S.-South Korea alliance, as enshrined in the Mutual Defense Treaty of 1953; and (2) the U.S. commitment to defend South Korea under Article III of that treaty. Reinforces U.S. commitments to provide extended deterrence to South Korea.
Supports efforts to: (1) strengthen such alliance and defend it against provocations by North Korea, (2) protect U.S. Armed Forces stationed on the Korean Peninsula, and (3) peacefully achieve a Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons through a diplomatic process.
Urges the United States and South Korea to work together: (1) with members of the United Nations Security Council and other member states, to enforce existing sanctions and consider the need to pass additional new measures under Article 41 of the United Nations Charter; and (2) to implement all aspects of the U.S.-Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement.
Encourages the U.S. and South Korean governments to continue to broaden and deepen the alliance by enhancing cooperation and building new partnerships in the security, economic, energy, scientific, health, education, and cultural spheres.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 200 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 200

Welcoming the President of the Republic of Korea on his official visit 
  to the United States and celebrating the United States-Republic of 
              Korea relationship, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 22, 2017

   Mr. Cardin (for himself, Mr. McCain, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Markey, Mr. 
Rubio, Mr. Reed, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Schatz, Mrs. Feinstein, 
 Mr. Kaine, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Coons, Mr. Boozman, Mr. 
Isakson, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Risch, and Mr. Perdue) submitted the following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Welcoming the President of the Republic of Korea on his official visit 
  to the United States and celebrating the United States-Republic of 
              Korea relationship, and for other purposes.

Whereas the Government and people of the United States and of the Republic of 
        Korea share a comprehensive alliance, a dynamic partnership, and a 
        personal friendship rooted in the common values of freedom, democracy, 
        and a free market economy;
Whereas the alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea is a 
        linchpin of regional stability in Asia, including against the threats 
        posed by the regime in Pyongyang;
Whereas cooperation between our nations spans across the economic, energy, 
        diplomatic, security, and cultural spheres;
Whereas the relationship between the people of the United States and of the 
        Republic of Korea stretches back to Korea's Chosun Dynasty, when the 
        United States and Korea established diplomatic relations under the 1882 
        Treaty of Peace, Amity, Commerce, and Navigation;
Whereas the United States-Republic of Korea alliance was forged in blood, with 
        military casualties of the United States during the Korean War of 
        approximately 36,574 deaths and more than 103,284 wounded, and 
        casualties of the Republic of Korea of more than 217,000 soldiers 
        killed, more than 291,000 wounded, and over 1,000,000 civilians killed 
        or missing;
Whereas the Korean War Veterans Recognition Act (Public Law 111-41) was enacted 
        on July 27, 2009, and President Barack Obama issued a proclamation to 
        designate the date as the National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day and 
        called upon the people of the United States to display flags at half-
        staff in memory of the Korean War veterans;
Whereas the Republic of Korea and the United States have also stood alongside 
        each other in the 4 major wars the United States has fought outside 
        Korea since World War II--in Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and 
        Iraq;
Whereas, since the 1953 Mutual Defense Treaty Between the United States and the 
        Republic of Korea, done at Washington October 1, 1953, and ratified by 
        the Senate on January 26, 1954, United States military personnel have 
        maintained a continuous presence on the Korean Peninsula, and currently 
        there are approximately 28,500 United States troops assigned in the 
        Republic of Korea;
Whereas, in January 2014, the United States and the Republic of Korea agreed 
        upon a new 5-year Special Measures Agreement (referred to in this 
        preamble as ``SMA''), establishing the framework for Republic of Korea 
        contributions to offset the costs associated with the stationing of 
        United States Forces Korea (referred to in this preamble as ``USFK'') on 
        the Korean Peninsula;
Whereas the Democratic People's Republic of Korea continues its dangerous 
        incitements, including political assassinations, conventional military 
        provocations, ballistic missile tests and the advancement of its nuclear 
        programs;
Whereas the United States continues to deploy advanced military capabilities to 
        the land, air and waters of South Korea, including the Terminal High 
        Altitude Area Defense system (referred to in this preamble as ``THAAD'') 
        to defend against the growing threat from the ballistic missile and 
        nuclear weapons programs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, 
        and will continue to closely coordinate with the Government of the 
        Republic of Korea when evaluating the full range of necessary defensive 
        military policies;
Whereas the new Government of the Republic of Korea has announced that it has no 
        intention to reverse commitments made in the spirit of the United 
        States-Republic of Korea alliance, while it plans to implement the 
        domestic procedures to uphold democratic, legal, and procedural 
        legitimacy and transparency;
Whereas the People's Republic of China has engaged in an unprecedented campaign 
        of economic pressure on the Republic of Korea in retaliation for the 
        decision by the United States-Republic of Korea alliance to deploy 
        THAAD, with the goal of undermining the United States-Republic of Korea 
        alliance and causing significant damage to the South Korean economy and 
        South Korean people;
Whereas the Government and people of the United States and of the Republic of 
        Korea share a deep commitment to addressing the continued suffering of 
        the people of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea due to the 
        appalling human rights abuses and repression of the regime in Pyongyang;
Whereas, on March 15, 2012, the United States-Republic of Korea Free Trade 
        Agreement entered into force, which both countries have committed to 
        fully implement;
Whereas the Republic of Korea is the United States sixth-largest trade partner, 
        with United States goods and exports to Korea reaching a level of 
        $63,800,000,000 in 2016;
Whereas United States foreign direct investment (referred to in this preamble as 
        ``FDI'') in Korea (in stock) was $34,600,000,000 in 2015, a 3.3 percent 
        increase from 2014 and Korea's FDI in the United States (in stock) was 
        $40,100,000,000 in 2015, up 0.5 percent from 2014;
Whereas, the Republic of Korea spends 2.6 percent of its gross domestic product 
        (referred to in this preamble as ``GDP'') on defense and carries a 
        significant portion of United States operating costs for forces in South 
        Korea;
Whereas President Moon Jae-in has expressed his desire to increase this spending 
        to 3 percent of GDP during his tenure;
Whereas the United States, the Republic of Korea, and the Government of Japan 
        have made great strides in promoting trilateral cooperation and defense 
        partnership, including ministerial meetings, information sharing, and 
        cooperation on ballistic missile defense exercises to counter North 
        Korean provocations;
Whereas, on May 7, 2013, the United States and the Republic of Korea signed a 
        Joint Declaration in Commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the 
        Alliance Between the Republic of Korea and the United States;
Whereas President Moon Jae-in stated during his inaugural address on May 10, 
        2017: ``I will do everything in my power to bring peace to the 
        peninsula.'';
Whereas there are deep cultural and personal ties between the people of the 
        United States and of the Republic of Korea, as exemplified by the large 
        flow of visitors and exchanges each year between the 2 countries, 
        including Korean students studying in United States colleges and 
        universities;
Whereas Korean-Americans have made invaluable contributions to the security, 
        prosperity, and diversity of our Nation;
Whereas, from June 28, 2017, through July 1, 2017, President Moon Jae-in will 
        visit Washington for his first official visit to the United States since 
        his election as President; and
Whereas the United States Government looks forward to continuing to deepen our 
        enduring partnership with the Republic of Korea on economic, security, 
        and cultural issues, as well as embracing new opportunities for new 
        partnership and cooperation on emerging regional and global challenges: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) welcomes His Excellency Moon Jae-in, the President of 
        the Republic of Korea, on his first official visit to the 
        United States;
            (2) reaffirms the importance of--
                    (A) the alliance between the United States and the 
                Republic of Korea, as enshrined in the Mutual Defense 
                Treaty of 1953, which is vital to peace and security in 
                Northeast Asia, and the entire Asia-Pacific region; and
                    (B) the commitment of the United States to defend 
                the Republic of Korea under Article III of the Mutual 
                Defense Treaty;
            (3) reinforces longstanding United States commitments to 
        provide extended deterrence, guaranteed by the full spectrum of 
        United States defense capabilities, to the Republic of Korea;
            (4) welcomes opportunities to strengthen security 
        consultation, cooperation, and partnership between the United 
        States and the Republic of Korea on matters such as space, 
        cyber, and missile defense;
            (5) supports ongoing efforts--
                    (A) to strengthen the United States-Republic of 
                Korea alliance;
                    (B) to protect the approximately 28,500 members of 
                the United States Armed Forces stationed on the Korean 
                Peninsula; and
                    (C) to defend the alliance against any and all 
                provocations committed by the regime of the Democratic 
                People's Republic of Korea;
            (6) urges the United States and the Republic of Korea to 
        work together with members of the United Nations Security 
        Council and other Member States to fully and effectively 
        enforce existing sanctions and consider the need to take 
        immediate action to pass additional and meaningful new measures 
        under Article 41 of the United Nations Charter;
            (7) supports efforts by the United States and the Republic 
        of Korea to peacefully achieve a Korean Peninsula free of 
        nuclear weapons through a diplomatic process;
            (8) urges the United States and the Republic of Korea to 
        work together to fully and fairly implement all aspects of the 
        United States-Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement; and
            (9) encourages the United States Government and the 
        Government of the Republic of Korea to continue to broaden and 
        deepen the alliance by enhancing cooperation and building new 
        partnerships in the security, economic, energy, scientific, 
        health, education, and cultural spheres.
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