U.S. lawmakers introduce resolution calling for formal end to Korean War

WASHINGTON, July 27 (Yonhap) -- Three U.S. House lawmakers and veterans of the Korean War introduced a resolution calling for a formal end to the conflict on Monday, the 62th anniversary of the cease fire. "It has been 65 years since the start of this war, yet there is lingering pain because it has never officially ended. The best thing we can do to honor the sacrifices of the Korean War veterans and the Korean people is to help bring about final closure to this painful chapter in history and help efforts to unite the divided Peninsula," said U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), the lead sponsor of the resolution. The two other sponsors are Reps. John Conyers Jr. (D-MI), and Sam Johnson (R-TX). The Korean War truce has never been converted into a peace treaty, leaving South and North Korea still technically at war. "On the 62nd anniversary of the Korean War Armistice, the fact that the Korean Peninsula is still technically in a state of war is wrong," Johnson said in a statement. "The people of Korea, our American veterans who served during this war, and their families all deserve the closure that a formal ending to this conflict." The resolution "pays tribute to the sacrifices of the Veterans of the Korean War, its victims and divided families" and calls upon the international community to support the vision of a unified Korea and assist efforts to promote international peace and security, denuclearization, economic prosperity, human rights, and the rule of law both on the Korean Peninsula and elsewhere. "As veterans of the Korean War, we put forward this resolution to honor those who have suffered over the last 70 years and to present a vision for peaceful reunification under principles of human rights, rule of law, denuclearization, and economic cooperation," Conyers said. jschang@yna.co.kr (END)