[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 41 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 41

      Encouraging peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 25, 2013

  Mr. Rangel submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
 referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the 
Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined 
 by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as 
        fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
      Encouraging peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula.

Whereas the Republic of Korea (hereinafter in this resolution referred to as 
        ``South Korea'') and Democratic People's Republic of Korea (hereinafter 
        in this resolution referred to as ``North Korea'') have never formally 
        ended hostilities and have been technically in a state of war since the 
        Armistice Agreement was signed on July 27, 1953;
Whereas the United States, as representing the United Nations Forces Command 
        which was a signatory to the Armistice Agreement, and with 28,500 of its 
        troops currently stationed in South Korea, has a stake in the progress 
        towards peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula;
Whereas progress towards peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula would 
        mean greater security and prosperity for the region and the world;
Whereas at the end of World War II, Korea officially gained independence from 
        Japanese rule, as agreed to at the Cairo Conference on November 22, 
        1943, through November 26, 1943;
Whereas on August 10, 1945, the Korean Peninsula was temporarily divided along 
        the 38th parallel into two military occupation zones commanded by the 
        United States and the Soviet Union;
Whereas on June 25, 1950, communist North Korea invaded the South, thereby 
        initiating the Korean War and diminishing prospects for a peaceful 
        unification of Korea;
Whereas during the Korean War, approximately 1,789,000 members of the United 
        States Armed Forces served in-theater along with the South Korean forces 
        and 20 other members of the United Nations to secure peace on the Korean 
        Peninsula and the Asia-Pacific region;
Whereas since the end of the Korean War era, the United States Armed Forces have 
        remained in South Korea to promote regional peace;
Whereas North Korea's provocations in the recent years have escalated tension 
        and instability in the Asia-Pacific region;
Whereas one of the largest obstacles to peace and reunification on the Korean 
        Peninsula is the presence of nuclear weapons in North Korea;
Whereas North Korea's refusal to denuclearize disrupts peace and security on the 
        Korean Peninsula;
Whereas beginning in 2003, the United States along with the two Koreas, Japan, 
        People's Republic of China, and the Russian Federation, have engaged in 
        six rounds of Six-Party Talks, aimed at finding a peaceful resolution to 
        the security concerns resulting from North Korea's nuclear development;
Whereas North Korea has recently signaled openness to resume the Six-Party 
        Talks, which halted in 2009 due to North Korea's increasing inflammatory 
        rhetoric and belligerent acts, including a satellite launch, sinking of 
        South Korean naval ship, and shelling of Yeonpyeong Island;
Whereas the three-mile wide buffer zone between the two Koreas, known as the 
        Demilitarized Zone or DMZ, is the most heavily armed border in the 
        world;
Whereas South Korea and North Korea remain the only divided nation in the world;
Whereas the Korean War separated more than 10,000,000 Korean family members, 
        including 100,000 Korean Americans who after 60 years of separation are 
        still waiting to see their families in North Korea;
Whereas reunification remains a long-term goal for the Governments of both North 
        and South Korea;
Whereas South Korea and North Korea are both full members of the United Nations, 
        whose stated purpose includes maintaining international peace and 
        security, and to that end ``take effective collective measures for the 
        prevention and removal of threats to the peace'';
Whereas the United States and South Korea have continuously stood shoulder-to-
        shoulder to promote and defend international peace and security, 
        economic prosperity, human rights, and the rule of law both on the 
        Korean Peninsula and beyond; and
Whereas July 27, 2013, marks the 60th anniversary of the Armistice Agreement of 
        the Korean War: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) recognizes the historical importance of the Korean War, 
        which began on June 25, 1950;
            (2) honors the noble service and sacrifice of the United 
        States Armed Forces and the armed forces of allied countries 
        that served in Korea since 1950 to the present;
            (3) reaffirms the commitment of the United States to its 
        alliance with South Korea for the betterment of peace and 
        prosperity on the Korean Peninsula; and
            (4) calls on North Korea to abide by international law and 
        cease its nuclear proliferation in order to resume talks that 
        could eventually lead to peace and reunification.
                                 <all>