[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 113 (Thursday, August 1, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1203-E1204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      ENCOURAGING PEACE AND REUNIFICATION ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 1, 2013

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor of H. Con. Res. 41, a 
bill encouraging peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula, I 
rise to encourage my colleagues to join me in support of the bill.
  This month, hundreds of Korean War veterans will gather in the 
nation's capital to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Korean War 
Armistice. In recognition of their service and for those who continue 
to serve on the peninsula to this day, we pause to express our 
appreciation and support.

[[Page E1204]]

  The Korean War began when North Korea invaded the South on June 25, 
1950. A peace treaty was never signed, only an armistice marking the 
end of hostilities. Today, Korea remains a divided nation, separating 
more than 10 million South Koreans, including 100,000 Korean-Americans, 
from their families in the North. As we pause to recognize the 
sacrifice of those who fought and died in the conflict, we must also 
remember all the others who were affected as well. This resolution 
reaffirms the commitment of the US to our alliance with South Korea and 
our commitment to working with South Korea to encourage the North to 
cease its nuclear proliferation activities so that talks to reunify the 
peninsula can commence.