[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 279 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 279

 Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the 125th anniversary of 
 the 1882 Treaty of Peace, Amity, Commerce and Navigation between the 
            Kingdom of Chosun (Korea) and the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 24, 2007

  Mr. Lugar (for himself, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Webb, and Mr. 
Isakson) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the 125th anniversary of 
 the 1882 Treaty of Peace, Amity, Commerce and Navigation between the 
            Kingdom of Chosun (Korea) and the United States.

Whereas both the Republic of Korea and the United States are fully democratic 
        states with a common commitment to human rights and the rule of law;
Whereas 2007 marks the 125th anniversary of the Treaty of Peace, Amity, Commerce 
        and Navigation between the Kingdom of Chosun (Korea) and the United 
        States, concluded May 22, 1882, which was a seminal moment in relations 
        between the United States and Korea;
Whereas the treaty contemplates ``everlasting amity and friendship between the 
        two peoples'', a tradition that both state signatories have worked to 
        achieve during the past 125 years;
Whereas 2007 marks the 50th anniversary of the entry into force of the Treaty of 
        Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation, with Protocol, signed at Seoul 
        November 28, 1956 (8 UST 2217), between the United States and the 
        Republic of Korea;
Whereas the United States and the Republic of Korea share a mutual interest in 
        the peaceful denuclearization of the Korean peninsula;
Whereas nearly 40,000 citizens of the United States gave their lives during the 
        Korean War with the hope that the Republic of Korea would remain free 
        and independent;
Whereas the Mutual Defense Treaty, signed at Washington October 1, 1953 (5 UST 
        2368), between the United States and the Republic of Korea, has led to 
        more than 50 years of effective deterrence against attack by the 
        Democratic People's Republic of Korea;
Whereas 29,000 troops from the United States remain stationed in the Republic of 
        Korea as a tangible sign of the commitment of the United States to the 
        security of the Republic of Korea;
Whereas the Republic of Korea is the fourth largest contributor of troops to the 
        peacekeeping effort in Iraq and continues its tradition of supporting 
        the United States in key armed struggles;
Whereas the Republic of Korea is making a significant military and financial 
        contribution to building lasting stability in Afghanistan;
Whereas the United States and the Republic of Korea continuously work to 
        modernize their security relationship through annual Security 
        Consultative Meetings between their defense ministers, the Strategic 
        Consultation for Allied Partnership Dialogue, and various lower-level 
        forums;
Whereas the economic partnership between the United States and the Republic of 
        Korea has contributed to significant economic growth for both countries;
Whereas the Republic of Korea is the seventh largest trading partner of the 
        United States, and the United States is the third largest trading 
        partner of the Republic of Korea;
Whereas the Free Trade Agreement between the United States of America and the 
        Republic of Korea, done at Washington June 30, 2007, is the first free 
        trade agreement between the United States and a Northeast Asian nation, 
        paving the way for greater economic efficiency and consumer benefits in 
        both countries;
Whereas nearly 2,000,000 Korean-Americans contribute to the fabric of life in 
        the United States and link the United States to Korea on a personal 
        basis;
Whereas the Republic of Korea sends more international students to the United 
        States than any other country; and
Whereas the strong relationship between the United States and the Republic of 
        Korea across many fronts has proven beneficial for both countries: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) the strength and endurance of the alliance between the 
        United States and the Republic of Korea should be acknowledged 
        and celebrated;
            (2) the Free Trade Agreement between the United States of 
        America and the Republic of Korea, done at Washington June 30, 
        2007, highlights the vibrancy and diversity of the common 
        interests of the United States and the Republic of Korea and 
        should be fully implemented by both countries;
            (3) the United States should sustain substantive dialogue 
        with both the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's 
        Republic of Korea, with the expectation of the eventual 
        unification of the Korean peninsula, as it was at the signing 
        of the Treaty of Peace, Amity, Commerce and Navigation between 
        the Kingdom of Chosun (Korea) and the United States, concluded 
        May 22, 1882;
            (4) working with the Republic of Korea to foster greater 
        regional cooperation in East Asia should be a priority of the 
        United States, as such cooperation brings long and short term 
        benefits to all those involved; and
            (5) the United States and the Republic of Korea should 
        strive to develop further a more global perspective in their 
        partnership, with the goal of addressing international 
        priorities such as the fight against terrorism, the promotion 
        of human rights, the enhancement of democracy, and support for 
        peacekeeping.
                                 <all>