Title: Recognizing the historic transformation of the United States-Republic of Korea alliance since the Korean War into a mutually beneficial, global partnership.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
This resolution commemorates the 70th anniversary of the start of the Korean war and expresses support for the alliance between the United States and South Korea. The resolution also commends the two countries' cooperation with respect to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1012 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1012

Recognizing the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean war and 
the transformation of the United States-Korea alliance into a mutually 
                    beneficial, global partnership.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 22, 2020

Mr. Bera (for himself and Mr. Yoho) submitted the following resolution; 
         which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean war and 
the transformation of the United States-Korea alliance into a mutually 
                    beneficial, global partnership.

Whereas June 25, 2020, marks the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of Korean war 
        when the Armed Forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea 
        (North Korea) attacked the Republic of Korea (South Korea) on June 25, 
        1950;
Whereas the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 83 on June 27, 
        1950, recommending ``Members of the United Nations furnish assistance to 
        the Republic of Korea'' and Resolution 84 on July 7, 1950, recommending 
        members make military forces and other assistance available ``to a 
        unified command under the United States of America'';
Whereas, on July 27, 1953, an Armistice Agreement was signed by United States 
        Army Lieutenant General William Harrison, Jr., representing the United 
        Nations Command with the Korean People's Army and the Chinese People's 
        Volunteer Army to ``ensure a complete cessation of hostilities and of 
        all acts of armed force in Korea until a final peaceful settlement is 
        achieved'';
Whereas the Armistice Agreement remains in force today and that by its terms has 
        neither formally ended the Korean war nor constituted a permanent 
        settlement of peace on the Korean Peninsula;
Whereas, on October 1, 1953, the Mutual Defense Treaty Between the United States 
        and the Republic of Korea (5 UST 2368) was signed in Washington with 
        ratification advised by the Senate on January 26, 1954, and remains in 
        force today ``to strengthen their efforts for collective defense for the 
        preservation of peace and security'';
Whereas during the Korean war, 1,789,000 United States soldiers, sailors, 
        airmen, and marines served in theater, 36,574 paid the ultimate 
        sacrifice with their lives in defense of freedom in the Republic of 
        Korea, and over 7,500 United States servicemembers remain classified by 
        the Department of Defense as missing in action;
Whereas, on October 7, 2016, H.R. 1475, entitled the ``Korean War Veterans 
        Memorial Wall of Remembrance Act'', was introduced in Congress by 
        Representative Sam Johnson of Texas and became Public Law 114-230;
Whereas according the House Report 114-433 to accompany H.R. 1475, H.R. 1475 
        authorizes a Wall of Remembrance to be added to the Korean War Veterans 
        Memorial with the names of those that died in theater, are listed as 
        missing, or prisoners of war, and would also list the number of members 
        of the Korean Augmentation to the United States Army (KATUSA) that were 
        killed in action, wounded in action, prisoners of war, or are listed as 
        missing in action;
Whereas the Korean war is no longer ``The Forgotten War'' but ``The Forgotten 
        Victory'' and June 25, 1950, is considered the symbolic start of the 
        ironclad United States-Korea alliance that was forged in blood;
Whereas in the 70 years since the outbreak of the Korean conflict, the United 
        States-Korea alliance has transformed itself from a security 
        relationship into a comprehensive global partnership;
Whereas the Republic of Korea is considered one of the greatest success stories 
        in the post-World War II era and constitutes one of the lynchpins of 
        United States foreign policy in Northeast Asia;
Whereas the United States and the Republic of Korea have stood shoulder to 
        shoulder in all four major conflicts the United States has faced since 
        the Korean war while maintaining peace on the Korean Peninsula;
Whereas this partnership has contributed to regional and global prosperity 
        through the shared values of democracy, free market economy, human 
        rights, and the rule of law;
Whereas it is in the national interest of the United States to maintain its 
        forward deployed presence in the Republic of Korea through United States 
        Forces Korea (USFK), a premier Joint Force that is ``well led, 
        disciplined, trained and ready to Fight Tonight and win'';
Whereas the 70-year transformation of the United States-Korea alliance into a 
        mutually beneficial partnership has recently led to important 
        coordination and cooperation in confronting global pandemics including 
        H1N1 in 2009, and COVID-19 in 2020;
Whereas the Republic of Korea has made significant contributions to the global 
        community in combating and containing COVID-19, including the 
        manufacture and export of Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain 
        Reaction (RT-PCR) test kits to the United States Government and various 
        States;
Whereas, on May 8, 2020, the Republic of Korea donated 500,000 masks to be 
        distributed to Korean war veterans throughout the United States, 
        including the Navajo Nation, in a gesture of gratitude and in 
        commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean war; 
        and
Whereas, on May 10, 2020, the Republic of Korea donated 2,000,000 masks to the 
        United States to help fill shortages in hospitals most impacted by 
        COVID-19: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commemorates the 70th anniversary of the start of the 
        Korean war and the beginning of the United States-Republic of 
        Korea alliance;
            (2) honors the men and women of both the United States and 
        Republic of Korea who have committed and sometimes sacrificed 
        their lives for the alliance during the Korean war and in 
        subsequent conflicts;
            (3) reaffirms the role the alliance plays in ensuring peace 
        and stability in Asia and the world;
            (4) celebrates the close and continuing ties between the 
        people and governments of the two nations;
            (5) commends the lifesaving cooperation between the 
        Republic of Korea and the United States during the COVID-19 
        pandemic at each country's moment of need; and
            (6) recommits the United States to ensuring the 
        relationship between the United States and Republic of Korea 
        continues to grow and thrive into the foreseeable future.
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