[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 309 Engrossed in House (EH)]

H. Res. 309

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                         June 15, 2009.
Whereas North Korea's nuclear tests and missile activities, and their suspected 
        proliferation, are threatening peace and stability in Northeast Asia and 
        beyond;
Whereas the North Korean leadership continues to pursue its nuclear ambitions 
        while up to 2,000,000 North Koreans reportedly starved to death during 
        the late 1990s and hundreds of thousands fled North Korea in search of 
        freedom and food;
Whereas, on October 18, 2004, H.R. 4011, the North Korean Human Rights Act, 
        became Public Law 108-333, bringing attention to the human rights 
        conditions in North Korea and to provide United States support for North 
        Korean refugees;
Whereas, on October 9, 2006, North Korea detonated a nuclear explosive device 
        prompting the United Nations Security Council to adopt military and 
        economic sanctions against North Korea through Resolution 1718;
Whereas, on June 30, 2008, H.R. 2642, the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 
        became Public Law 110-252, granting the President the authority to waive 
        the Glenn Amendment sanctions in order to facilitate North Korea's 
        denuclearization process and to provide heavy fuel oil energy assistance 
        to North Korea in support of the Six-Party Talks;
Whereas, on October 7, 2008, the North Korean Human Rights Reauthorization Act 
        became Public Law 110-346;
Whereas, on October 11, 2008, North Korea was removed from the United States 
        list of state sponsors of terrorism;
Whereas, on October 15, 2008, the Naval Vessel Transfer Act became Public Law 
        110-429 and included provisions to upgrade the Republic of Korea's 
        foreign military sales status to that of ``NATO plus three'';
Whereas, on January 30, 2009, North Korea announced that it would nullify all 
        inter-Korean agreements that are in pursuit of putting an end to the 
        state of political and military confrontations and abrogate the 
        agreements on the Sea Demarcation Line, known as the ``Northern Limit 
        Line'';
Whereas, on February 3, 2009, President Barack Obama stated, in a call with the 
        Republic of Korea's President Lee Myung-bak, that recent events 
        underscore the need for the United States and the Republic of Korea to 
        work together even more closely to achieve complete and verifiable 
        denuclearization of North Korea;
Whereas, on February 10, 2009, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated that 
        North Korea must understand that all of the countries in East Asia have 
        made it clear that North Korea's recent behavior is viewed as 
        unacceptable;
Whereas, on February 20, 2009, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated, in a 
        joint press conference with the Republic of Korea's Foreign Minister Yu 
        Myung-hwan, that the United States and the Republic of Korea maintain a 
        joint resolve to bring about the complete and verifiable 
        denuclearization of North Korea through the Six-Party Talks and that 
        North Korea is not going to get a different relationship with the United 
        States while insulting and refusing dialogue with the Republic of Korea;
Whereas for more than a year, North Korea has refused proposals from the 
        Republic of Korea for mutual dialogue and also has refused to fully 
        implement the Six-Party agreements on denuclearization;
Whereas, on April 5, 2009, North Korea launched a missile in clear violation of 
        United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718 prompting a statement by 
        President Obama condemning the launch;
Whereas, on April 13, 2009, the United Nations Security Council adopted a 
        Presidential Statement condemning the launch;
Whereas, on April 14, 2009, North Korea declared that it would withdraw from the 
        Six-Party Talks and resume its nuclear program, and subsequently 
        expelled International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors at the Yongbyon 
        facility;
Whereas, on April 29, 2009, North Korea announced that unless the United Nations 
        Security Council promptly apologize for infringing the sovereignty of 
        North Korea, and withdraw resolutions and decisions adopted against 
        North Korea, it would conduct nuclear tests and test-firings of 
        intercontinental ballistic missiles, and build a light water reactor 
        plant and start the technological development for ensuring self-
        production of nuclear fuel;
Whereas, on May 25, 2009, North Korea announced that it has conducted a second 
        nuclear test and in successive days, North Korea has launched six short-
        range missiles and threatened to abrogate the July 27, 1953, armistice 
        ending the Korean War;
Whereas, on May 29, 2009, North Korea announced that it would ``take additional 
        self-defense measures'' if the United Nations Security Council takes any 
        further actions against North Korea;
Whereas, on June 12, 2009, the United Nations Security Council unanimously 
        adopted Resolution 1874, which condemns North Korea in the strongest 
        terms, and imposes stronger sanctions on North Korea by introducing 
        measures to conduct cargo inspections, to restrict North Korea's Weapons 
        of Mass Destruction-related financial transactions, and to strengthen 
        the arms embargo; and
Whereas in face of serious security challenges on the Korean Peninsula, 
        including the recent North Korean hostilities towards the Republic of 
        Korea, the alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea 
        remains resilient and firm, based on shared values, mutual trust, and 
        common interests: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--
            (1) North Korea should immediately stop any hostile rhetoric and 
        activity towards the Republic of Korea and engage in mutual dialogue to 
        enhance inter-Korean relations;
            (2) North Korea should fully implement the Six-Party joint statement 
        of September 19, 2005, verifiably abandon all of its nuclear weapons and 
        existing nuclear programs, and return to the Non-Proliferation Treaty at 
        an early date;
            (3) North Korea should comply with United Nations Security Council 
        Resolutions 1718 of 2006 and 1874 of 2009;
            (4) the United States remains committed to the promotion of inter-
        Korean dialogue and cooperation; and
            (5) the strategic importance of the strong alliance between the 
        United States and the Republic of Korea, in promoting peace and 
        prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, should be 
        recognized.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.