The U.S. state of Washington has adopted a resolution seeking to grant ethnic Koreans who acquired U.S. citizenship after fighting in the Vietnam War the same benefits given to American Vietnam War veterans.

The South Korean consulate in Seattle said Monday that the Washington State Senate on Friday unanimously passed a motion which seeks to grant insurance for medical treatment and other benefits to Korean veterans who participated in the Vietnam War and have U.S. citizenship.

The motion will likely go to the U.S. Congress soon for full deliberation within this year.

Washington State Senator Paull Shin, who proposed the motion, said that the U.S. government has a duty to protect Korean soldiers who fought for freedom and peace in the Vietnam War alongside American soldiers.