[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 12818-12820]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      ENCOURAGING PEACE AND REUNIFICATION ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 41) encouraging peace and 
reunification on the Korean Peninsula, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 41

       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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel), the author of this bill and a 
hero of the Korean War, who served his country with valor during that 
tough campaign. After surviving an onslaught by waves of Chinese 
troops, he led his surviving comrades, while wounded, to safety from 
behind enemy lines, for which he was awarded a Purple Heart and also a 
Bronze Star for Valor.
  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I was prepared to respond to the chairman 
and ranking member for their legislative courtesies they had extended 
to me. I appreciate the tribute being paid to me which, unusually, I 
was awkwardly unprepared for. But I do want to thank the gentleman for 
his friendship in more ways than just this resolution, as well as Tom 
Sheehy, who worked with your staff, and, of course, my friend from New 
York, J.J., on the committee staff. He guided to make certain that this 
almost-legislatively impossible resolution was so expediently brought 
up to be considered by this august House.
  On Saturday last, the President of the United States, along with our 
congressional colleague, who is now the Secretary of the Department of 
Defense, and the Secretaries of all of the Armed Forces groups, got 
together to honor the veterans of the Korean War. It was a sight to see 
so many Korean veterans from so many different parts of the country.
  They were reminded by the President that we had been labeled--those 
that participated--as what was referred to as ``the forgotten war.'' 
Because most all of the world knew about the importance of America 
being involved in saving democracy in World War II. And Vietnam, for 
good or bad, everyone knew people that went there. But somehow, in the 
middle of that, no one really missed us or knew where Korea was--or it 
didn't appear there was too

[[Page 12819]]

much concern. When we did return, unlike the Vietnam veterans, who 
really had unfairly been treated, but fortunately for us, we were never 
missed, except by our families and friends. People never knew where we 
were. The Congress was not as kind to us as they had been to the 
veterans.
  Having said all of that, it was a wonderful tribute. Veterans turned 
out from all over. Certainly, there were comrades that were part of the 
20 countries that were part of the United Nations. And when the North 
Koreans invaded South Korea, those of us that were called to go to 
South Korea to defend them were going to a country that we never knew 
to fight for a people that we never met and for causes that were not 
well known.
  And the war has never really been called a war. It's never been 
called a truce. It still is a division between these people. But as a 
result of the United States and the United Nations' efforts, millions 
of lives lost--54,000 Americans killed, 100,000 Americans wounded, and 
close to 9,000 either captured or missing in action--one would say, 
With all of the blood and money, what did we get out of this?
  And that's what we discussed Saturday with the Korean War veterans. 
What we got out of this was the integrity of the United States of 
America. That any commitment that we had made to the United Nations not 
only would we be participating but we would lead, as we did under the 
direction of General MacArthur.
  And today, as we look back and see that, out of the rubble of a 
country that had been reduced by war, and we take a look at what exists 
in the northern part, as this division still exists today, in Communist 
North Korea, we have seen a people that had no jobs, no homes, no 
resources, but they did have hope.

                              {time}  2015

  Out of the South Korean hope and dream came a nation, a new nation, a 
nation that demonstrated what democratic people can do; an economy was 
built, and a friendship and a partnership with the United States and 
freedom-loving people all over the world.
  So today, we don't just say as Korean veterans that we know where 
Korea is. We say that no matter how little a part we played, that we 
can look back and be proud as Americans that we have, in a small part, 
been possible to see this small nation become a world power, not only 
in terms of its military, but its friendship in terms of America's 
national defense; not only in terms of friendship, but being one of our 
wonderful trading partners that provides jobs for Koreans and 
Americans.
  So it only makes sense, as a great country of ours that still has the 
scars of the Civil War, that we should want Koreans, North and South, 
to find some way to seek unity, to find some way to understand the 
values of democracy, to find some way that the thing that democracies 
are willing to fight and die for exists in that peninsula.
  I want to specifically thank Hannah Kim of my office for doing what 
staff does for all of us in getting people even from the other body to 
understand how important this was to the President and to the Congress; 
and, of course, to the Speaker's staff, who worked closely with 
Chairman Royce--that's Mike Sommers and Dave Schnittger. And on the 
other side of the Capitol, Todd Womack, chief of staff of Senator 
Corker, and Mike Henry and his gang, as chief of staff of Senator Tim 
Kaine.
  And on behalf of all of the veterans, I can tell you, as I yield my 
time back to the chairman, that we all have felt that America really 
did love us; they just needed an opportunity to express it.
  So we thank you for this resolution. It's not just for me and 
Koreans, but it's also for Korean Americans. So many Asians, and 
especially Korean Americans, they love Korea, but they love our country 
best.
  Mr. ROYCE. I thank Mr. Rangel, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent 
Resolution 41, as amended, and I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Let me say, first of all, that I want to thank my colleague and 
friend from New York, Congressman Rangel, for his service to our 
country in the Korean War; also, for his long service in the House of 
Representatives and for offering this important resolution.
  If you grew up in New York, as I did, and you grew up in politics, 
everyone knows who Charlie Rangel is, anyplace in New York--New York 
City or New York State. And now we actually have adjoining districts, 
back-to-back districts. He obviously means so much to so many people, 
and I'm proud to call him my colleague and even more proud to call him 
my friend. So I want to thank Congressman Rangel, who sponsored this 
legislation. I want to thank our chairman, Ed Royce, for his leadership 
as well on this resolution.
  What this does is H. Con. Res. 41 recognizes the historical 
importance of the Korean War, which ended 60 years ago this past 
weekend. The resolution also affirms the strong bonds between the 
United States and the Republic of Korea which were forged in blood 
during the Korean War.
  During that conflict, nearly 1.8 million American soldiers served in 
the theater to defend freedom and democracy. Sadly, almost 55,000 were 
killed, over 100,000 were wounded, and about 8,000 were listed as 
missing in action or prisoners of war.
  Just as I thank Congressman Rangel, my good friend, I want to also 
say that the House has other Korean War veterans in the House--
Representative John Conyers, Representative Sam Johnson, and 
Representative Howard Coble. Charlie Rangel and all the other Korean 
War veterans in the House I just mentioned all deserve our recognition 
and sincere thanks.
  From the ruins of that conflict 60 years ago, we've seen the rise of 
a strong alliance between the United States and South Korea, the 
emergence of South Korea as one of the major economies of the world and 
a leading trading partner of the United States.
  This past January, I visited South Korea with Chairman Royce, where 
we had an opportunity to meet South Korea's new President--and we also 
met her when she came here and spoke before the joint session of 
Congress a few months ago--and we also met with other senior officials 
when we were in Seoul. Based on these conversations, I can tell you 
that the U.S.-South Korea relationship has never been stronger. With 
the continued threat posed by North Korea, the U.S.-Korea alliance is 
needed more than ever to safeguard peace and stability in that region 
of the world.
  More than 28,000 American armed services personnel serve in Korea 
today, and Chairman Royce and I met many of those people when we were 
over in Korea. And just as Korean War veterans fought for freedom, so, 
too, do these current-day defenders stand ready to help protect freedom 
on the Korean Peninsula and throughout the region.
  So I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE. Well, Mr. Speaker, I would close my remarks by saying that 
I rise in strong support of this resolution.
  I'd like to add my voice to others grateful for the sacrifices so 
many Americans made to protect the freedom of South Korea. And I again 
acknowledge the four Members of this House--Congressman Charlie Rangel, 
John Conyers, Sam Johnson, and Howard Coble--the veterans of that war, 
to thank them for their service in the Armed Forces.
  I commend Congressman Rangel for offering this resolution here on the 
60th anniversary of this special relationship that we have with South 
Korea. We recall that 22 nations came together to defend the Republic 
of Korea, and fighting stopped 3 years later with an armistice that 
still remains in place. 5.7 million Americans served during that 
conflict. As noted, the casualties were 56,000, if you count those 
missing and presumed dead. Over 100,000 Americans were wounded in that 
war. And 140,000 South Koreas were killed in action, many of whom 
fought side by side with American forces for the cause of freedom. But 
when you calculate the more than 3

[[Page 12820]]

million Korean civilians killed in that conflict, you begin to 
appreciate the enormity of the human loss.
  The heroic deeds of these servicemen, both Korean and American, laid 
the foundation for that alliance that we speak of here that has lasted 
some 60 years, but also brought relative stability, as Mr. Rangel 
pointed out, to northeast Asia, and certainly laid that foundation for 
the prosperity that we see in Seoul and around the country today.
  Yet Korea remains a divided peninsula. This is a calamity for the 
Korean people. The United States and South Korea have spent much of the 
last 20 years offering to engage North Korea with aid, with trade, and 
with diplomacy. All of these initiatives, unfortunately, have failed. 
And the North Korean response? Besides its aggressive behavior towards 
South Korea, the regime there continues to develop nuclear weapons, to 
test missiles, and to supply weapons to countries like Iran and Syria.
  Mr. Chairman, we have tried many strategies. I think only one has 
worked, really, and that was financial pressure. I recall in 2005 when 
an Under Secretary of the Treasury caught North Korea counterfeiting 
$100 bills, so what he did was used the power of the U.S. financial 
system to cut off Kim Jong Il's access to his vast offshore wealth. And 
while the North Korean people were starving at the time, as you know, 
the country's dictator had billions of dollars stashed away in foreign 
banks that suddenly he did not have access anymore to that money when 
the sanctions were put on the Banco Delta Asia. Blocking those accounts 
denied Kim Jong Il the cash he needed to sustain that vast police 
state, to sustain that million-man army, to pay for his nuclear weapons 
and his luxurious lifestyle.
  For a while, the world had his attention. For a while, he wanted to 
come back to the table. I think that approach worked. I suspect North 
Korea will only change when it's forced to change, and I think we must 
resurrect a successful strategy of financial pressure.
  But, Mr. Speaker, today what we do, what we dedicate ourselves to is 
recognizing the 60th anniversary of the Armistice Agreement of the 
Korean War. Importantly, this resolution not only honors the service 
and sacrifices of the members of the Armed Forces, but it also 
reaffirms our commitment to the U.S.-Korea alliance. And this 
resolution sends a message that the U.S. goal remains that which 
thousands of Americans, including four of our Members, fought for; that 
goal remains peace on the Korean Peninsula.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Before I yield back, I want to thoroughly embarrass my 
colleague and friend from New York because we found, in our cloakroom, 
this wonderful picture. This good-looking guy is Charlie Rangel when he 
was a soldier in Korea. And now you know why he was elected to 
Congress. Anyone who looks that good, everyone votes for. It's nice to 
hold a picture of a hero.
  Mr. RANGEL. If the gentleman would yield, I thank you so much, my 
dear colleague from New York.
  Mr. ENGEL. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I fully support H. Con. Res 41--
Encouraging peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula. I would 
like to thank Congressman Rangel for bringing this bill forward and 
thank him for his service as a Korean War Veteran.
  This past week marked the 60th Anniversary of the Korean War 
Armistice and I want to thank all of our service men and women who 
served and continue to serve in Korea. This timely resolution 
recognizes the historical importance of the Korean War and honors the 
service and sacrifice of the U.S. Armed Forces and the armed forces of 
allied countries that served, and continue to serve, in Korea. It 
reaffirms the commitment of the United States to our alliance with 
South Korea, and calls on North Korea to abide by international law and 
cease its nuclear proliferation in order to resume talks that could 
lead to peace and reunification.
  As one of our strongest allies in that region, South Korea stands 
firmly for the ideals of democracy and freedom. This bill sends a 
strong message to the people of South Korea that we stand with them on 
their struggle against North Korean oppression. Our policy should be 
clear: the oppressive Pyongyang regime will face continued sanctions 
and isolation unless it ceases its illicit activities and its 
persistent threats against us and our allies.
  I hope that one day Koreans will be able to reunite, and this bill 
helps promote this noble cause.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 41, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as amended, was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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