[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 156 (Thursday, December 2, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8443-S8444]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONDEMNING THE ATTACK BY THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
AGAINST THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 693, submitted
earlier today.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 693) condemning the attack by the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea against the Republic of
Korea, and affirming support for the United States-Republic
of Korea Alliance.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution.
Mr. DURBIN. I ask unanimous consent to have my name added as a
cosponsor of that measure.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. DURBIN. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to,
the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the
table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any statements
relating to this matter be printed in the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution (S. Res. 693) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
S. Res. 693
Whereas Yeonpyeong Island is located in the Yellow Sea
(West Sea) about 50 miles west of the city of Incheon and is
inhabited by more than 1,000 citizens and military personnel
from the Republic of Korea;
Whereas the United Nations Command established the Northern
Limit Line in 1953, marking the line of military control
between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the
Republic of Korea;
Whereas, on November 23, 2010, the Republic of Korea
military conducted military exercises in the Yellow Sea (West
Sea) on the southern side of the Northern Limit Line;
Whereas, on that day, North Korea military forces fired
approximately 170 artillery shells at Yeonpyeong Island,
resulting in military and civilian casualties, including the
death of 2 marines and 2 civilians from the Republic of
Korea;
Whereas North Korea's shelling caused widespread damage to
military installations and civilian property;
Whereas North Korea's attack against South Korea infringes
upon the commitments made in the Korean War Armistice
Agreement of 1953 that oblige military commanders to ``order
and enforce a complete cessation of all hostilities in Korea
by all armed forces under their control'';
[[Page S8444]]
Whereas this attack also violates United Nations Security
Council Resolution 1695 (2006), which emphasizes the need for
North Korea ``to show restraint and refrain from any action
that might aggravate tension, and to continue to work on the
resolution of non-proliferation concerns through political
and diplomatic efforts'';
Whereas this brazen attack is one in a series of actions by
the Government of North Korea that undermine regional peace
and security, especially on the Korean peninsula;
Whereas this attack follows the March 26, 2010, torpedo
attack by the Government of North Korea against the Republic
of Korea ship CHEONAN, which resulted in the death of 46
sailors from the Republic of Korea Navy;
Whereas this attack also follows the revelation that the
Government of North Korea has constructed a uranium
enrichment facility at the Yongbyon nuclear site in clear
violation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1718
(2006) and 1874 (2009);
Whereas this attack and the trend of continued provocation
by the Government of North Korea reinforces the importance of
the alliance between the United States and the Republic of
Korea and the need for the United States to maintain a strong
military presence in East Asia; and
Whereas this attack also signifies the importance of
maintaining a strong bilateral economic, security, and
cultural relationship with the Republic of Korea: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) condemns the attack by the Government of North Korea
against the Republic of Korea in violation of the 1953 Korean
War Armistice Agreement;
(2) expresses its deep condolences to the government and
people of the Republic of Korea, especially the families on
Yeonpyeong Island who suffered from this attack and lost
their loved ones;
(3) recognizes that maintaining peace on the Korean
peninsula requires constant vigilance, and continues to stand
with the people and the Government of the Republic of Korea
in this time of crisis;
(4) calls on the international community, especially North
Korea's ally, China, to condemn this attack and enjoin the
Government of North Korea to halt all nuclear activities in
accord with United Nations Security Council resolutions 1718
(2006) and 1874 (2009) and refrain from any further actions
that may destabilize the Korean Peninsula;
(5) calls on the President to work with the Government of
the Republic of Korea to take all necessary steps to deter
further aggression by the Government of North Korea, in
keeping with the security alliance between the United States
and the Republic of Korea;
(6) urges the Administration to continue a bilateral
economic relationship with the Republic of Korea; and
(7) reaffirms the commitment of the United States to its
alliance with the Republic of Korea for the preservation of
peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and throughout
the region.
____________________