Press Release

U.S. Representatives Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA) and Ted Yoho (R-FL), Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Nonproliferation, today introduced a bipartisan resolution commemorating the 70^th anniversary of the start of the Korean War and the strong United States-Republic of Korea partnership.

"Seventy years after the start of the Korean War, the alliance between the United States and South Korea remains unwavering," said Chairman Bera. "Our partnership, anchored in our shared values of democracy and a free market economy, has been the cornerstone of regional security and prosperity in Northeast Asia. Our friendship extends beyond defense to deep and enduring people-to-people bonds. I am especially grateful to South Korea for lending a hand to our country during the COVID-19 pandemic by donating over 500,000 masks to Korean War veterans throughout the United States. This good-will act is the epitome of our close bond. I look forward to 70 more years of a strong partnership between our two countries."

"June 25th will mark the seventieth anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War. For seven decades the alliance and friendship between South Korea and the United States has remained unbreakable. Our shared democratic values and desire for peace through strength are important linchpins for prosperity in Northeast Asia. I am proud to co-lead this resolution to commemorate this significant anniversary and reaffirm the commitment between our two great nations," said Ranking Member Yoho.

Click here or see below for the full text of the resolution.

Recognizing the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean war and the transformation of the United States-Korea alliance into a mutually beneficial, global partnership.

Whereas June 25, 2020, marks the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of Korean war when the Armed Forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) attacked the Republic of Korea (South Korea) on June 25, 1950;

Whereas the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 83 on June 27, 1950, recommending ‘‘Members of the United Nations furnish assistance to the Republic of Korea'' and Resolution 84 on July 7, 1950, recommending members make military forces and other assistance available ‘‘to a unified command under the United States of America'';

Whereas on July 27, 1953, an Armistice Agreement was signed by United States Army Lieutenant General William Harrison, Jr. representing the United Nations Command with the Korean People's Army and the Chinese People's Volunteer Army to ‘‘ensure a complete cessation of hostilities and of all acts of armed force in Korea until a final peaceful settlement is achieved'';

Whereas the Armistice Agreement remains in force today and that by its terms has neither formally ended the Korean war nor constituted a permanent settlement of peace on the Korean Peninsula;

Whereas on October 1, 1953, the Mutual Defense Treaty Between the United States and the Republic of Korea (5 UST 2368) was signed in Washington with ratification advised by the Senate on January 26, 1954, and remains in force today ‘‘to strengthen their efforts for collective defense for the preservation of peace and security'';

Whereas during the Korean war, 1,789,000 United States soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines served in theater, 36,574 paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives in defense of freedom in the Republic of Korea, and over 7,500 United States servicemembers remain classified by the Department of Defense as missing in action;

Whereas on October 7, 2016, H.R. 1475, entitled the ‘‘Korean War Veterans Memorial Wall of Remembrance Act'', was introduced in Congress by Representative Sam Johnson of Texas and became Public Law 114–230;

Whereas according the House Report 114–433 to accompany

H.R. 1475, H.R. 1475 authorizes a Wall of Remembrance to be added to the Korean War Veterans Memorial with the names of those that died in theater, are listed as missing, or prisoners of war, and would also list the number of members of the Korean Augmentation to the United States Army (KATUSA) that were killed in action, wounded in action, prisoners of war, or are listed as missing in action;

Whereas the Korean war is no longer ‘‘The Forgotten War'' but ‘‘The Forgotten Victory'' and June 25, 1950, is considered the symbolic start of the ironclad United States- Korea alliance that was forged in blood;

Whereas in the 70 years since the outbreak of the Korean conflict, the United States-Korea alliance has transformed itself from a security relationship into a comprehensive global partnership;

Whereas the Republic of Korea is considered one of the greatest success stories in the post-World War II era and constitutes one of the lynchpins of United States foreign policy in Northeast Asia;

Whereas the United States and the Republic of Korea have stood shoulder to shoulder in all four major conflicts the United States has faced since the Korean war while maintaining peace on the Korean Peninsula;

Whereas this partnership has contributed to regional and global prosperity through the shared values of democracy, free market economy, human rights, and the rule of law;

Whereas it is in the national interest of the United States to maintain its forward deployed presence in the Republic of Korea through United States Forces Korea (USFK), a premier Joint Force that is ‘‘well led, disciplined, trained and ready to Fight Tonight and win'';

Whereas the 70-year transformation of the United States- Korea alliance into a mutually beneficial partnership has recently led to important coordination and cooperation in confronting global pandemics including H1N1 in 2009, and COVID–19 in 2020;

Whereas the Republic of Korea has made significant contributions to the global community in combating and containing COVID–19, including the manufacture and export of Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test kits to the United States Government and various States;

Whereas on May 8, 2020, the Republic of Korea donated 500,000 masks to be distributed to Korean war veterans throughout the United States, including the Navajo Nation, in a gesture of gratitude and in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean war; and

Whereas on May 10, 2020, the Republic of Korea donated 2,000,000 masks to the United States to help fill shortages in hospitals most impacted by COVID–19: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) commemorates the 70th anniversary of the start of the Korean war and the beginning of the United States-Republic of Korea alliance;

(2) honors the men and women of both the United States and Republic of Korea who have committed and sometimes sacrificed their lives for the alliance during the Korean war and in subsequent conflicts;

(3) reaffirms the role the alliance plays in ensuring peace and stability in Asia and the world;

(4) celebrates the close and continuing ties between the people and governments of the two nations;

(5) commends the lifesaving cooperation between the Republic of Korea and the United States during the COVID–19 pandemic at each country's moment of need; and

(6) recommits the United States to ensuring the relationship between the United States and Republic of Korea continues to grow and thrive into the foreseeable future.