[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 124, 111th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


Public Law 111-201
111th Congress

Joint Resolution


 
Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War and
reaffirming the United States-Korea alliance. <>

Whereas on June 25, 1950, communist North Korea invaded the Republic of
Korea with approximately 135,000 troops, thereby initiating the
Korean War;

Whereas on June 27, 1950, President Harry Truman ordered the United
States Armed Forces to help the Republic of Korea defend itself
against the North Korean invasion;

Whereas the hostilities ended in a cease-fire marked by the signing of
the armistice at Panmunjom on July 27, 1953, and the peninsula still
technically remains in a state of war;

Whereas during the Korean War, approximately 1,789,000 members of the
United States Armed Forces served in theater along with the forces
of the Republic of Korea and 20 other members of the United Nations
to defend freedom and democracy;

Whereas casualties of the United States during the Korean War included
54,246 dead (of whom 33,739 were battle deaths), more than 103,284
wounded, and approximately 8,055 listed as missing in action or
prisoners of war;

Whereas the Korean War Veterans Recognition Act (Public Law 111-41) was
enacted on July 27, 2009, so that the honorable service and noble
sacrifice by members of the United States Armed Forces in the Korean
War will never be forgotten;

Whereas President Barack Obama issued a proclamation to designate July
27, 2009, as the National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day and
called upon Americans to display flags at half-staff in memory of
the Korean War veterans;

Whereas since 1975, the Republic of Korea has invited thousands of
American Korean War veterans, including members of the Korean War
Veterans Association, to revisit Korea in appreciation for their
sacrifices;

Whereas in the 60 years since the outbreak of the Korean War, the
Republic of Korea has emerged from a war-torn economy into one of
the major economies in the world and one of the largest trading
partners of the United States;

Whereas the Republic of Korea is among the closest allies of the United
States, having contributed troops in support of United States
operations during the Vietnam war, Gulf war, and operations in Iraq
and Afghanistan, while also supporting numerous United Nations
peacekeeping missions throughout the world;


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Whereas since the end of the Korean War era, more than 28,500 members of
the United States Armed Forces have served annually in the United
States Forces Korea to defend the Republic of Korea against external
aggression, and to promote regional peace;

Whereas North Korea's sinking of the South Korean naval ship, Cheonan,
on March 26, 2010, which resulted in the killing of 46 sailors,
necessitates a reaffirmation of the United States-Korea alliance in
safeguarding the stability of the Korean Peninsula;

Whereas from the ashes of war and the sharing of spilled blood on the
battlefield, the United States and the Republic of 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

Whereas beginning in June 2010, various ceremonies are being planned in
the United States and the Republic of Korea to commemorate the 60th
anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War and to honor all
Korean War veterans, including the Korean War Veterans Appreciation
Ceremony in the hometown of President Harry S. Truman, which will
express the commitment of the United States to remember and honor
all veterans of the Korean War: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress--
(1) recognizes the historical importance of the 60th
anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War, which began on
June 25, 1950;
(2) honors the noble service and sacrifice of the United
States Armed Forces and the armed forces of allied countries
that served in Korea since 1950 to the present;
(3) encourages all Americans to participate in commemorative
activities to pay solemn tribute to, and to never forget, the
veterans of the Korean War; and
(4) reaffirms the commitment of the United States to its
alliance with the Republic of Korea for the betterment of peace
and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula.

Approved July 7, 2010.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S.J. Res. 32 (H.J. Res. 86):
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 156 (2010):
June 16, considered and passed Senate.
June 23, considered and passed House.