Senate Unanimously Passes Sullivan Resolution Commemorating 75th Anniversary of the Korean War

On June 25, 1950, North Korean forces invaded the South Korea, a move that was meant to unify the Korean peninsula under communist rule, as both North and South Korea claimed to be the legitimate government. Soon, the conflict escalated into a major proxy war during the Cold War, with the United Nations-primarily the United States-supporting South Korea, while the Soviet Union and China backed North Korea.

75 years later, Senator Dan Sullivan, a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC) and co-chair of the U.S. Senate Korea Caucus, announced the unanimous passage of his Senate resolution commemorating the 75th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War and recognizing important lessons from the war, particularly the imperative of maintaining military readiness in defense of the United States and its allies.

“On the 75th anniversary of the Korean War—the ‘Noble War,’ we should all remember the brave Americans who fought, died and sacrificed to keep another country free, the Republic of Korea, one of our strongest allies today,” said Senator Sullivan in a press release. “Commemorating the Korean War is also important for recognizing the lessons we learned that are still relevant today. In 1945, America was the greatest, most lethal military in the history of the world. We had just won World War II. We conquered the Nazis. We conquered Imperial Japan. We were the biggest, most fearsome military in history. Five years later, at the outbreak of the Korean War, because of weak civilian and military leadership, we were not ready. Unfortunately, thousands of young Americans in the summer of 1950 were killed in action, because they weren't ready to fight.”

The resolution marks the 75th anniversary of the outbreak of the brutal three-year conflict known as the Korean War, in which the United States, under resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, responded to that unprovoked aggression, mobilizing more than 1,700,000 United States military forces and led a unified United Nations Command to fight in defense of freedom and security on the Korean Peninsula.

More than 103,000 Americans were wounded, and 36,574 Americans made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives defending the security of the Republic of Korea, while more than 7,500 remain unaccounted for today.

The Republic of Korea bore immense hardship during the war, losing 137,899 to the conflict, with 450,742 injured, and more than 30,000 missing or captured, in addition to almost 1,000,000 civilian casualties. It has since been marked with extraordinary resilience and resolve in the face of destruction and invasion.

While the Korean War has never been officially declared over, there remains an alliance between the United States and ROK, formed with the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Republic of Korea on October 1, 1953, remaining a mutual commitment to the other’s defense, in accordance with constitutional processes, in the event of an armed attack in the Pacific area on either of the parties.

In the years since the treaty was signed, there remains lessons learned from the Korean War that underscore the ongoing need for strategic, operational, and tactical readiness across all branches of the military in an increasingly dangerous global environment.

The Senate resolution also recognizes the Republic of Korea as a vital treaty ally and “linchpin of peace, security, trade, and democratic values for Northeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific region,” while reaffirming the commitment of the United States to maintaining a strong, modern, and fully prepared military force capable of deterring aggression and defending national security interests. It also urges continued investment in training, equipment, and support for members of the United States Armed Forces to ensure military readiness across all domains, including land, sea, air, space, and cyber.

The resolution also hopes to change how many refer to the Korean War, as it is often dubbed the ‘‘Forgotten War,’’ which fails to recognize the significance of this noble chapter in American history, as well as the sacrifice and valor of American service members; an endeavor that preserved freedom for millions and exemplified the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of the United States Armed Forces.

“Whereas the words engraved on the Korean War Veterans Memorial—‘‘Freedom is not free’’—remain a solemn reminder of the cost of liberty and the importance of military preparedness.”

“We can never let this happen again,” said Senator Sullivan.