US Congress passes resolution on Korean War

By Kim Young-jin

Staff reporter

The U.S. Congress has adopted a joint resolution marking the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1950-53 Korean War and reaffirming the U.S.-South Korea alliance at a time of renewed tension on the peninsula.

The House of Representatives unanimously passed the resolution Thursday, following the same result in the Senate on Wednesday, congressional sources said.

The legislation recognizes the historical significance of the anniversary and honors the "noble service and sacrifice" of the country's armed forces who have served in Korea since the outbreak of the war.

It calls on "all Americans to participate in commemorative activities to pay solemn tribute to, and to never forget, the veterans of the Korean War."

The move comes amid high inter-Korean tension following the sinking of the warship Cheonan, which Seoul has taken to the U.N. Security Council for punitive measures against Pyongyang.

The North has threatened "all-out war" if punished over the incident _ a chilling reminder that the two Koreas technically remain at war as the Cold War-era conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.

The resolution states that the incident "necessitates a reaffirmation of the United States-Korea alliance in safeguarding the stability of the Korean Peninsula."

Today, some 28,500 American soldiers are stationed in South Korea to deter hostility from the North.

Some 55,000 American soldiers were killed in the Korean War, during which the U.S. fought under the U.N. banner against the communist North, which was backed by China.