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

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC) and co-chair of the U.S. Senate Korea Caucus, today celebrated the unanimous passage of his Senate resolution commemorating the 75thanniversary 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 75thanniversary 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 Sen. Sullivan. “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. We can never let this happen again.”
Below is the full text of Senator Sullivan’sresolution.
Commemorating the 75th anniversary of the outbreak ofthe Korean War and reaffirming the critical importanceof maintaining military readiness in defense of theUnited States and its allies.
Whereas June 25, 2025, marks the 75th anniversary of theoutbreak of the brutal three-year conflict known as theKorean War, which began when the armed forces ofNorth Korea launched a full-scale invasion of the Republicof Korea;
Whereas the United States, under resolutions of the UnitedNations Security Council, responded to that unprovokedaggression and mobilized more than 1,700,000 UnitedStates soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines, and led aunified United Nations Command to fight in defense of freedom and security on the Korean Peninsula;
Whereas more than 103,000 Americans were wounded, and36,574 Americans made the ultimate sacrifice, givingtheir lives defending the security of the Republic ofKorea, while more than 7,500 remain unaccounted for;
Whereas the Korean War has long been referred to as the‘‘Forgotten War,’’ which fails to recognize the significanceof this noble chapter in American history, as wellas the sacrifice and valor of American service members;
Whereas the defense of the Republic of Korea by UnitedStates and allied forces allowed for the development ofthe modern Republic of Korea into a robust market economy,a vibrant democracy, a strong ally of the UnitedStates, and a bedrock contributor to regional stabilityand the global community;
Whereas the Republic of Korea endured immense hardshipduring the war, suffering 137,899 soldiers killed, 450,742injured, and more than 30,000 missing or captured, inaddition to almost 1,000,000 civilian casualties, yet demonstratedextraordinary resilience and resolve in the faceof destruction and invasion;
Whereas the United States-Republic of Korea alliance,formed with the signing of the Mutual Defense Treatybetween the United States and the Republic of Korea onOctober 1, 1953, is a mutual commitment to the other’sdefense, in accordance with constitutional processes, inthe event of an armed attack in the Pacific area on eitherof the parties;
Whereas the hard-learned lessons of the Korean War underscorethe ongoing need for strategic, operational, and tactical readiness across all branches of the military in an increasingly dangerous global environment; and
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: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate—
(1) commemorates the 75th anniversary of theoutbreak of the Korean War and honors the bravery,sacrifice, and service of the United States ArmedForces and allies who fought to defend the people ofthe Republic of Korea from being conquered by thecommunists of North Korea, the People’s Republicof China, and the Soviet Union;
(2) recognizes the Republic of Korea as a vitaltreaty ally and linchpin of peace, security, trade, anddemocratic values for Northeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific region;
(3) acknowledges the enduring legacy of theKorean War in shaping United States defense policyand alliances in the Indo-Pacific region;
(4) reaffirms the commitment of the UnitedStates to maintaining a strong, modern, and fullyprepared military force capable of deterring aggression and defending national security interests;
(5) urges continued investment in training,equipment, and support for members of the UnitedStates Armed Forces to ensure military readinessacross all domains, including land, sea, air, space,and cyber; and
(6) calls upon all people of the United States toremember the Korean War not as the ‘‘ForgottenWar,’’ but as the ‘‘Noble War,’’ an endeavor thatpreserved freedom for millions and exemplified the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of the UnitedStates Armed Forces.
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