CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20192020 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Joint Resolution No. 31Introduced by Assembly Member ChoiFebruary 19, 2020Relative to stability in the Korean Peninsula.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAJR 31, as introduced, Choi. Korean Peninsula: regional peace and stability.This measure would call on the United States Congress and the President of the United States to take appropriate measures to facilitate stability in the Korean region, build goodwill that is conducive to peace in the Korean Peninsula, and minimize potential negative impacts to the South Korean economy, ensuring that the trade relationship between the State of California and South Korea can continue to flourish.Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO Bill TextWHEREAS, The year 2020 marks the 70th year since the Korean War broke out on June 25, 1950, when the North Korean Peoples Army crossed the 38th parallel and invaded the Republic of Korea with 135,000 soldiers; andWHEREAS, During the fierce fighting that was the Korean War, 36,516 Americans died, including 2,611 Californians, 92,134 were injured, and 4,759 are still missing in action; andWHEREAS, Nearly 1,000,000 South Korean soldiers and civilians were killed during this war; andWHEREAS, Korea is still divided into North and South since the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed on July 27, 1953, in Panmunjom. After the armistice, Communist Korean forces withdrew across the 38th parallel, reinstating South Koreas status as a free, democratic nation; andWHEREAS, 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; andWHEREAS, Every year, 3,000 elderly South Koreans die without seeing their long-lost loved ones in the North; andWHEREAS, In all, 20,000 people have participated in 20 rounds of reunions since 1985; andWHEREAS, According to the 2010 United States census, there are roughly 750,000 people in California who self-identify as Korean in origin, making California the state with the largest Korean population; andWHEREAS, Approximately 150,000 citizens of the United States reside in South Korea; andWHEREAS, The United States 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; andWHEREAS, Many Korean Americans are waiting for a chance to meet their relatives in North Korea for the first time in more than 65 years; andWHEREAS, It is apparent that Korean Americans living in California will be devastated by the loss, damages, and suffering of their families and relatives remaining in South Korea; andWHEREAS, Peace in the Korean Peninsula remains a long-term goal for the governments of South Korea and the United States and would mean greater security and stability for the region and the world; andWHEREAS, Peace and unification are foundational to the prosperity and freedom that all Californians and all Americans should promote; andWHEREAS, The United States believes the threat to the stability of the region and to the interests of the United States is a credible one; andWHEREAS, South Korea is a significant market for United States small- and medium-sized companies, which make up the majority of United States businesses exporting to South Korea; andWHEREAS, California is the top exporting state to South Korea, making up nearly 20 percent of United States exports. In 2016, California exported over $8.2 billion in goods to South Korea; andWHEREAS, According to the most recent figures, United States foreign direct investment in South Korea totaled roughly $34.6 billion and is concentrated largely in the manufacturing, banking, and wholesale trade sectors. South Korean foreign direct investment in the United States reached $40 billion; andWHEREAS, Regional instability could lead South Korea to spend more on defense and could hurt revenues, potentially causing damage to the $1.4 trillion economy of South Korea and affecting the confidence of Korean consumers and businesses, increasing the difficulty in the South Korean government in promoting economic recovery; now, therefore, be itResolved, by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature calls on the United States Congress and the President of the United States to take appropriate measures to facilitate stability in the Korean region, build goodwill that is conducive to peace in the Korean Peninsula, and minimize potential negative impacts to the South Korean economy, ensuring that the trade relationship between the State of California and South Korea can continue to flourish; and be it alsoResolved, That the Legislature calls on the United States government to exhaust any and all resources to bring about an official peaceful end to the Korean War; and be it alsoResolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20192020 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Joint Resolution No. 31Introduced by Assembly Member ChoiFebruary 19, 2020Relative to stability in the Korean Peninsula.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAJR 31, as introduced, Choi. Korean Peninsula: regional peace and stability.This measure would call on the United States Congress and the President of the United States to take appropriate measures to facilitate stability in the Korean region, build goodwill that is conducive to peace in the Korean Peninsula, and minimize potential negative impacts to the South Korean economy, ensuring that the trade relationship between the State of California and South Korea can continue to flourish.Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20192020 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Joint Resolution
No. 31
Introduced by Assembly Member ChoiFebruary 19, 2020
Introduced by Assembly Member Choi
February 19, 2020
Relative to stability in the Korean Peninsula.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AJR 31, as introduced, Choi. Korean Peninsula: regional peace and stability.
This measure would call on the United States Congress and the President of the United States to take appropriate measures to facilitate stability in the Korean region, build goodwill that is conducive to peace in the Korean Peninsula, and minimize potential negative impacts to the South Korean economy, ensuring that the trade relationship between the State of California and South Korea can continue to flourish.
This measure would call on the United States Congress and the President of the United States to take appropriate measures to facilitate stability in the Korean region, build goodwill that is conducive to peace in the Korean Peninsula, and minimize potential negative impacts to the South Korean economy, ensuring that the trade relationship between the State of California and South Korea can continue to flourish.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
WHEREAS, The year 2020 marks the 70th year since the Korean War broke out on June 25, 1950, when the North Korean Peoples Army crossed the 38th parallel and invaded the Republic of Korea with 135,000 soldiers; and
WHEREAS, During the fierce fighting that was the Korean War, 36,516 Americans died, including 2,611 Californians, 92,134 were injured, and 4,759 are still missing in action; and
WHEREAS, Nearly 1,000,000 South Korean soldiers and civilians were killed during this war; and
WHEREAS, Korea is still divided into North and South since the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed on July 27, 1953, in Panmunjom. After the armistice, Communist Korean forces withdrew across the 38th parallel, reinstating South Koreas status as a free, democratic nation; and
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; and
WHEREAS, Every year, 3,000 elderly South Koreans die without seeing their long-lost loved ones in the North; and
WHEREAS, In all, 20,000 people have participated in 20 rounds of reunions since 1985; and
WHEREAS, According to the 2010 United States census, there are roughly 750,000 people in California who self-identify as Korean in origin, making California the state with the largest Korean population; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 150,000 citizens of the United States reside in South Korea; and
WHEREAS, The United States 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; and
WHEREAS, Many Korean Americans are waiting for a chance to meet their relatives in North Korea for the first time in more than 65 years; and
WHEREAS, It is apparent that Korean Americans living in California will be devastated by the loss, damages, and suffering of their families and relatives remaining in South Korea; and
WHEREAS, Peace in the Korean Peninsula remains a long-term goal for the governments of South Korea and the United States and would mean greater security and stability for the region and the world; and
WHEREAS, Peace and unification are foundational to the prosperity and freedom that all Californians and all Americans should promote; and
WHEREAS, The United States believes the threat to the stability of the region and to the interests of the United States is a credible one; and
WHEREAS, South Korea is a significant market for United States small- and medium-sized companies, which make up the majority of United States businesses exporting to South Korea; and
WHEREAS, California is the top exporting state to South Korea, making up nearly 20 percent of United States exports. In 2016, California exported over $8.2 billion in goods to South Korea; and
WHEREAS, According to the most recent figures, United States foreign direct investment in South Korea totaled roughly $34.6 billion and is concentrated largely in the manufacturing, banking, and wholesale trade sectors. South Korean foreign direct investment in the United States reached $40 billion; and
WHEREAS, Regional instability could lead South Korea to spend more on defense and could hurt revenues, potentially causing damage to the $1.4 trillion economy of South Korea and affecting the confidence of Korean consumers and businesses, increasing the difficulty in the South Korean government in promoting economic recovery; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature calls on the United States Congress and the President of the United States to take appropriate measures to facilitate stability in the Korean region, build goodwill that is conducive to peace in the Korean Peninsula, and minimize potential negative impacts to the South Korean economy, ensuring that the trade relationship between the State of California and South Korea can continue to flourish; and be it also
Resolved, That the Legislature calls on the United States government to exhaust any and all resources to bring about an official peaceful end to the Korean War; and be it also
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.