Peace on the Korean Peninsula Act

Bill Number

H.R. 1841

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

International Affairs

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-03-04: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Last Updated

2026-06-26T23:14:49Z

AI-Generated Summary

Summary of H.R. 1841: Peace on the Korean Peninsula Act

Purpose

This bill aims to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula by reviewing U.S. travel restrictions to North Korea (officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea or DPRK), urging a formal end to the Korean War through diplomacy, and encouraging steps toward better U.S.-North Korea relations, such as establishing liaison offices. It emphasizes humanitarian needs and diplomatic engagement without altering military commitments.

Key Provisions

• Findings (Section 2): Outlines historical context, including the 1953 armistice that halted fighting but did not end the war; commitments by South and North Korea in 2018 to declare an end to the war; U.S. support for peace negotiations; the negative impacts of ongoing war status, such as lack of formal relations preventing family visits; and North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.
• Review of Travel Restrictions (Section 3):
• Expresses Congress's view that current bans on U.S. citizens traveling to North Korea need reevaluation by the Secretary of State.
• Requires a comprehensive review within 180 days, covering what travel qualifies as "in the national interest" or under "compelling humanitarian considerations" (e.g., family visits, funerals, or religious commemorations).
• Mandates a report to Congress detailing the review, any policy changes, and rationales, submitted in unclassified form with a possible classified annex.
• Push for Formal End to the Korean War (Section 4):
• Urges the Secretary of State to pursue urgent diplomacy with North and South Korea for a binding peace agreement to replace the armistice.
• Requires a report within 180 days outlining a roadmap, including negotiation steps, key stakeholders, challenges, and strategies for a permanent peace; submitted in unclassified form with a possible classified annex.
• Establishing Liaison Offices (Section 5): Encourages negotiations with North Korea to open liaison offices in each country's capital, building on the 2018 U.S.-North Korea summit commitments for improved relations.
• Rule of Construction (Section 6): Clarifies that the bill does not impact the presence of U.S. Armed Forces in South Korea or elsewhere.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces no direct amendments to current laws, such as the existing travel restrictions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (which allows the President to impose sanctions and travel bans). Instead, it relies on non-binding "senses of Congress" (expressions of legislative opinion) and mandates reviews and reports. These could indirectly influence executive policy but do not legally compel changes.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The Department of State must conduct reviews and submit detailed reports to congressional committees (Foreign Affairs in the House and Foreign Relations in the Senate), potentially increasing administrative workload and shaping future diplomatic priorities.
• On Citizens: U.S. nationals, especially the estimated 100,000 Korean Americans with relatives in North Korea, could benefit from eased travel restrictions for humanitarian reasons like family reunions or funerals, reducing barriers to personal connections.
• On International Relations: Promotes U.S. diplomatic engagement with North Korea and South Korea, potentially reducing tensions and advancing denuclearization talks. It could strain relations if North Korea rejects overtures, but aligns with U.S. allies like South Korea and Japan by prioritizing peace over confrontation.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. Citizens and Korean Americans: Particularly those with family ties in North Korea, who face current travel bans.
• U.S. Government: The Department of State (for reviews, reports, and negotiations) and Congress (for oversight).
• North and South Korea: Central to proposed peace agreements and liaison offices.
• U.S. Allies: South Korea, Japan, and others in the region, who benefit from reduced war risks but may have concerns over North Korea's nuclear activities.
• International Community: Affected by any progress on North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: The bill's "sense of Congress" provisions are advisory and do not create enforceable obligations, respecting the executive branch's authority over foreign policy under Article II of the U.S. Constitution. Reports ensure congressional oversight without infringing on presidential powers.
• Constitutional: No apparent conflicts; it supports diplomatic processes without affecting treaty-making or military deployments.
• Political: Signals bipartisan support (introduced by a diverse group of representatives) for de-escalation and humanitarian diplomacy, potentially pressuring future administrations to prioritize peace talks. It highlights ongoing Korean War status as a barrier to normalization, but acknowledges North Korea's security threats, balancing idealism with realism.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32]

Cosponsors (49)

Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47], Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9], Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37], Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17], Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49], Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10], Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. Tran, Derek [D-CA-45], Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3], Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8], Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]

Recent Actions

• 2025-03-04: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
• 2025-03-04: Introduced in House
• 2025-03-04: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Peace on the Korean Peninsula Act — issued 2025-03-04 — PDF (7 pages)