AJR66

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman ELLEN J. PARK

District 37 (Bergen)

Assemblywoman CLEOPATRA G. TUCKER

District 28 (Essex and Union)

Assemblyman HERB CONAWAY, JR.

District 7 (Burlington)

SYNOPSIS

Commemorates 70th anniversary of armistice that ended Korean War.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

A Joint Resolution commemorating the 70th anniversary of the armistice that ended the Korean War.

Whereas, The Korean War began on June 25, 1950, when the armed forces of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea invaded the Republic of Korea in a surprise and unprovoked attack along the 38th parallel, which is the border that separates the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea; and

Whereas, The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea utilized military forces against the Republic of Korea in an attempt to reunify the peninsula under its communist rule, and in just three days the soldiers of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea seized Seoul, the capital of the Republic of Korea; and

Whereas, On June 27, 1950, the United Nations’ Security Council passed a resolution declaring that the attack conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was a violation of peace, urging United Nation members to support the Republic of Korea in its defense; and

Whereas, The United Nations established a coalition of 22 countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, and the United States to assist the Republic of Korea by supplying fighting units as well as medical services; and

Whereas, Ninety percent of the soldiers deployed to assist the Republic of Korea were American soldiers and more than 1.7 million Americans served in the armed forces during the war; and

Whereas, More than 33,000 Americans died and more than 100,000 were injured during the war; and

Whereas, More than 191,000 New Jersey residents served in the military during the Korean War and 836 New Jersey residents were killed or missing in action during the war; and

Whereas, After three years of tragic warfare, an armistice was put in place on July 27, 1953, ending the Korean War even though the armistice was never officially signed, leaving the Korean peninsula in a tense and divided situation; and

Whereas, After the Korean War, the United States and the Republic of Korea signed a mutual defense treaty, which established an alliance between both countries; and

Whereas, This year marks the 70th anniversary of the alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea that was formed through sacrifice and shared hardship; and

Whereas, Although the Korean War led to the death of 2.5 million individuals, this war is often referred to as the “forgotten war” for the lack of attention it has received, compared to other more well-known international conflicts; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. The State of New Jersey commemorates the 70th anniversary of the armistice that ended the Korean War on July 27, 1953.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the Adjutant General of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veteran Affairs. The Adjutant shall send copies of this resolution to Korean War veteran associations in New Jersey.

3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

The Korean War began on June 25, 1950, when the armed forces of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea invaded the Republic of Korea in a surprise and unprovoked attack. A few days later, the United Nations’ Security Council declared that the attack conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was a violation of peace. Shortly after, United Nations members were urged to support the Republic of Korea in its defense. Twenty-two countries, including the United States, got involved in the Korean War by supplying the Republic of Korea with fighting units and medical services.

From the 1.7 million American soldiers who served in the Korean War, more than 33,000 died and more than 100,000 were injured. More than 191,000 New Jersey residents served in the military during the Korean War, and 836 New Jersey residents were killed or missing in action during the war. After the Korean War ended, the United States and the Republic of Korea signed a mutual defense treaty, which established an alliance between both countries. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea that was formed through sacrifice and shared hardship. Although the Korean War led to the death of 2.5 million individuals, this war is often referred to as the "forgotten war" for the lack of attention it has received compared to other, more well-known international conflicts. Therefore, the State of New Jersey commemorates the 70th anniversary of the armistice that ended the Korean War on July 27, 1953.