[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 130, 114th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
<> DIVIDED KOREAN AMERICAN
FAMILIES--ENCOURAGING REUNIONS

Whereas the Republic of Korea (hereinafter in this resolution referred
to as ``South Korea'') and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
(hereinafter in this resolution referred to as ``North Korea'')
remain divided since the armistice agreement was signed on July 27,
1953;

Whereas the United States, which as a signatory to the armistice
agreement as representing the United Nations Forces Command, and
with 28,500 of its troops currently stationed in South Korea, has a
stake in peace on the Korean Peninsula and is home to more than
1,700,000 Americans of Korean descent;

Whereas the division on the Korean Peninsula separated more than
10,000,000 Korean family members, including some who are now
citizens of the United States;

Whereas there have been 19 rounds of family reunions between South
Koreans and North Koreans along the border since 2000;

Whereas Congress signaled its interest in family reunions between United
States Citizens and their relatives in North Korea in section 1265
of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
(Public Law 110-181), signed into law by President George W. Bush on
January 28, 2008;

Whereas the number of more than 100,000 estimated divided family members
in the United States last identified in 2001 has been significantly
dwindling as many of them have passed away;

Whereas many Korean Americans are waiting for a chance to meet their
relatives in North Korea for the first time in more than 60 years;
and

Whereas peace on the Korean Peninsula remains a long-term goal for the
Governments of South Korea and the United States,

[[Page 3056]]

and would mean greater security and stability for the region and the
world: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That Congress--
(1) encourages North Korea to allow Korean Americans to meet
with their family members from North Korea; and
(2) calls on North Korea to take concrete steps to build
goodwill that is conducive to peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Agreed to December 10, 2016.