[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 41 Received in Senate (RDS)]

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 1, 2013

                                Received

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
      Encouraging peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula.

Whereas the Republic of Korea (in this resolution referred to as ``South 
        Korea'') and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (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, 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 attacked the South, thereby 
        initiating the Korean War and diminishing prospects for a peaceful 
        unification of Korea;
Whereas, during the Korean War, more than 36,000 members of the United States 
        Armed Forces were killed and 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 in 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 provocations by the Government of North Korea in recent years have 
        escalated tension and instability in the Asia-Pacific region;
Whereas North Korea's human rights abuses, suppression of dissent, and hostility 
        to South Korea remain significant obstacles to peace and reunification 
        on the Korean Peninsula;
Whereas North Korea's economic policies have led to extreme economic privation 
        for its citizens, whose quality of life ranks among the world's lowest;
Whereas North Korea's proliferation of nuclear and missile technology threatens 
        international peace and stability;
Whereas North Korea has systematically violated numerous International Atomic 
        Energy Agency and United Nations Security Council Resolutions with 
        respect to its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs;
Whereas the refusal of the Government of North Korea to denuclearize disrupts 
        peace and security on the Korean Peninsula;
Whereas, beginning in 2003, the United States, along with the two Koreas, Japan, 
        the People's Republic of China, and the Russian Federation, have engaged 
        in six rounds of Six-Party Talks aimed at the verifiable and 
        irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and finding a 
        peaceful resolution to the security concerns resulting from North 
        Korea's nuclear development;
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 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 of 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 Governments and people of 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 the 
        denuclearization of North Korea; 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 members of 
        the United States Armed Forces and the armed forces of allied 
        countries that have served in Korea since 1950;
            (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 respect the fundamental human 
        rights of its citizens, abandon and dismantle its nuclear 
        weapons program, and end its nuclear and missile proliferation 
        as integral steps toward peace and eventual reunification.

            Passed the House of Representatives July 31, 2013.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.