WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), John McCain (R-Ariz), Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) led a bipartisan group of their colleagues yesterday to introduce a Senate resolution welcoming the President of the Republic of Korea, Moon Jae-in, on his official visit to the United States next week and celebrating the U.S.-South Korean relationship.
“South Korea is one of the United States’ most important allies in the world, with our two countries sharing a number of security, diplomatic, economic and cultural ties,” said Senator Cardin, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “At a time of increased tensions on the Korean Peninsula it is imperative we reaffirm our friendship, underscore our shared values, and bolster our mutual cooperation. I welcome President Moon to the United States and wish him a productive visit.
“President Moon’s first official visit to the United States is an important opportunity for our two countries to bolster and deepen our bilateral relationship,” said Senator McCain, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “With threats and hostilities growing across in the region, it is critical the United States and South Korea work together to strengthen our defense and security cooperation. I welcome President Moon to the United States and I look forward to meeting with him to discuss the many challenges and opportunities before us."
“President Moon’s visit to Washington offers a critical opportunity for the United States and South Korea to work together to put unprecedented pressure on the North Korean regime to freeze its provocative ballistic missile and nuclear programs and return to denuclearization negotiations,” said Senator Markey, Ranking Member of the SFRC Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific. “By deepening our diplomatic, military, and economic cooperation, the United States and South Korea will strengthen an alliance that remains a cornerstone of peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region.”
“President Moon’s visit to the United States comes at a time of unprecedented danger to the world from the madman in Pyongyang and its enablers in Beijing and Moscow,” said Senator Gardner, Chairman of the SFRC Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific. “This resolution sends a clear signal that our alliance remains unbreakable and the United States and the ROK are committed to pursue lasting peace and security on the Korean Peninsula.”
Joining the resolution as original cosponsors are U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), and David Perdue (R-Ga.).
The text of the resolution can be found at this link.
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