What This Bill Does
This resolution states that North Korea violated international law when it seized the USS Pueblo naval ship and held its crew in 1968. The House of Representatives calls for North Korea to return the USS Pueblo to the United States, declaring it remains U.S. government property.
Who It Affects
The United States Government and North Korea.
Key Provisions
• The House maintains that North Korea's seizure of the USS Pueblo and detention of the crew violated international law (Resolved, paragraph 1).
• The House declares the USS Pueblo is the property of the United States Government and should be returned to the United States (Resolved, paragraph 2).
What Changes
Not specified in bill text. This is a resolution expressing the House's position rather than creating new laws or requirements.
Important Definitions
None defined.
IV
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. RES. 44
Maintaining North Korea’s seizure of the vessel USS Pueblo and its detention
of the crew were in violation of international law and seeking the return
of the USS Pueblo to the United States.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 17, 2023
Mr. STEUBE (for himself, Mr. WALTZ, and Mr. TIFFANY) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
RESOLUTION
Maintaining North Korea’s seizure of the vessel USS Pueblo
and its detention of the crew were in violation of inter-
national law and seeking the return of the USS Pueblo
to the United States.
Whereas the USS Pueblo is a commissioned ship of the
United States Navy captured by North Korea on January
23, 1968;
Whereas the USS Pueblo carried three 50-caliber machine
guns and were not fired when the USS Pueblo was being
seized by North Korean patrol boats and engaged in no
hostilities against anyone, including North Korea;
Whereas the United States has made clear that the USS
Pueblo was on an intelligence collection mission in the
Sea of Japan at the time of its seizure by North Korea;
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•HRES 44 IH
Whereas intelligence collection by vessels of this type is a
standard and accepted practice in the world today;
Whereas the USS Pueblo was engaged in a mission that is
accepted by the navies and governments of the world;
Whereas the USS Pueblo had strict orders to remain at all
times at a distance more than 13 nautical miles from the
nearest point in North Korean territory, in order to avoid
any possible incident. The United States has no reason
to believe the orders were not obeyed;
Whereas even in the case of a warship that has entered terri-
torial waters, the coastal state is not entitled to assert
any jurisdiction over it other than to require the warship
to leave the territorial sea if the warship does not comply
with regulations of the coastal state concerning passage
through the territorial sea and disregards a request for
compliance;
Whereas the United States contends international law gives
no such right to seize a foreign war vessel within the ter-
ritorial waters of North Korea; and
Whereas all evidence shows that the USS Pueblo was on the
high seas: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
1
(1) maintains North Korea’s seizure of the ves-
2
sel USS Pueblo and its detention of the crew were
3
in violation of international law; and
4
(2) declares that USS Pueblo is the property of
5
the United States Government and it should be re-
6
turned to the United States.
7
Æ
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