Public Law 111-201

by by the 111th Congress of the United States

111^TH UNITED STATES CONGRESS
2^ND SESSION

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

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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;

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

• CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 156 (2010):
  • June 16, considered and passed Senate.
  • June 23, considered and passed House.