[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 75 (Thursday, June 11, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S6270]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE UNITED STATES AND KOREA

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Foreign 
Relations Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 
245, and further, that the Senate proceed to its immediate 
consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 245) expressing the sense of the 
     Senate that the United States and the Republic of Korea 
     should continue to advance already close bilateral security, 
     economic and political ties for the mutual benefit of both 
     countries.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the resolution?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, and a statement of explanation 
appear at this point in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 245) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, is as follows:

                              S. Res. 245

       Whereas, the United States maintains a close, critical and 
     robust bilateral partnership with the Republic of Korea, and 
     has a profound interest in furthering that relationship;
       Whereas, the U.S. security relationship with the ROK, based 
     on the 1953 Mutual Defense Treaty, bilateral consultations 
     and combined is one of our most important, and it is in both 
     countries' interest, as well as in the interest of the 
     countries of the Asia Pacific region for that relationship to 
     be maintained;
       Whereas, the ROK is the United States' seventh largest 
     trading partner, fifth largest export market and fourth 
     largest market for U.S. agricultural products;
       Whereas, the recent presidential election of Kim Dae Jung, 
     formerly one of his country's most prominent dissidents, 
     further demonstrates the strength and vibrancy of democracy 
     in the ROK;
       Whereas, the ROK has already made significant strides in 
     reforming, restructuring and opening its economy in response 
     to the Asian financial crisis;
       Whereas, President Kim has committed his administration to 
     making an array of further structural reforms that over the 
     medium- to long-term, will produce a more open, competitive 
     and dynamic Korea, benefiting the Korean people, U.S.-ROK 
     relations and the global economy;
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that:
       (1) The United States and the Republic of Korea should 
     continue to advance already close bilateral security, 
     economic and political ties for the mutual benefit of both 
     countries, and for the maintenance of peace, stability and 
     prosperity in the Asia Pacific region; and
       (2) Commends President Kim Dae Jung and the Republic of 
     Korea for the measures already implemented and those measures 
     it has committed to implement to resolve the country's 
     economic and financial problems.

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