,i #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cjab ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,april #bh1 #bjbc,mrs4 ,kim of ,california 7for herself and ,mr4 ,bera7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to reauthorize the ,north ,korean ,human ,rights ,act of #bjjd1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,north ,korean ,human ,rights ,reauthorization ,act of #bjbc4 #b4 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,the ,north ,korean ,human ,rights ,act of #bjjd 7,public ,law #ajh-ccc2 #bb ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja et seq47 and subsequent reauthorizations of such ,act were the product of broad1 bipartisan consensus regarding the promotion of human rights1 documentation of human rights violations1 transparency in the delivery of humanitarian assistance1 and the importance of refugee protection4 7#b7 ,the human rights and humanitarian conditions within ,north ,korea remain deplorable and have been intentionally perpetuated against the people of ,north ,korea through policies endorsed and implemented by ,kim ,jong-un and the ,workers' ,party of ,korea4 7#c7 ,according to a #bjad report released by the ,united ,nations ,human ,rights ,council's ,commission of ,inquiry on ,human ,rights in the ,democratic ,people's ,republic of ,korea1 between #hj1jjj and #abj1jjj children1 women1 and men were being held in political prison camps in ,north ,korea1 where they were subjected to deliberate starvation1 forced labor1 executions1 torture1 rape1 forced abortion1 and infanticide4 7#d7 ,north ,korea continues to hold a number of ,south ,koreans and ,japanese abducted after the signing of the ,agreement ,concerning a ,military ,armistice in ,korea1 signed at ,panmunjom ,july #bg1 #aiec 7commonly referred to as the ,korean ,war ,armistice ,agreement7 and refuses to acknowledge the abduction of more than #ajj1jjj ,south ,koreans during the ,korean ,war in violation of the ,geneva ,convention4 7#e7 ,human rights violations in ,north ,korea1 which include forced starvation1 sexual violence against women and children1 restrictions on freedom of movement1 arbitrary detention1 torture1 executions1 and enforced disappearances1 amount to crimes against humanity according to the ,united ,nations ,commission of ,inquiry on ,human ,rights in the ,democratic ,people's ,republic of ,korea4 7#f7 ,the effects of the ,,covid-#ai pandemic and ,north ,korea's strict lockdown of its borders and crackdowns on informal market activities and small entrepreneurship have drastically increased food insecurity for its people and given rise to famine conditions in parts of the country4 7#g7 ,north ,korea's ,,covid-#ai border lockdown measures also include shoot-to-kill orders that have resulted in the killing of-- 7,a7 ,north ,koreans attempting to cross the border2 and 7,b7 at least #a ,south ,korean citizen in ,september #bjbj4 7#h7 ,the ,government of the ,people's ,republic of ,china is aiding and abetting in crimes against humanity by forcibly repatriating ,north ,korean refugees to ,north ,korea where they are sent to prison camps1 harshly interrogated1 and tortured or executed4 7#i7 ,the forcible repatriation of ,north ,korean refugees violates the ,people's ,republic of ,china's freely undertaken obligation to uphold the principle of non-refoulement1 as a state party to the ,convention ,relating to the ,status of ,refugees1 done at ,geneva ,july #bh1 #aiea 7and made applicable by the ,protocol ,relating to the ,status of ,refugees1 done at ,new ,york ,january #ca1 #aifg 7#ai ,,ust #fbbc774 7#aj7 ,north ,korea continues to bar freedom of religion and persecute religious minorities1 especially ,christians4 ,eyewitnesses report that ,christians in ,north ,korea have been tortured1 forcibly detained1 and even executed for possessing a ,bible or professing ,christianity4 7#aa7 ,united ,states and international broadcasting operations into ,north ,korea-- 7,a7 serve as a critical source of outside news and information for the ,north ,korean people2 and 7,b7 provide a valuable service for countering regime propaganda and false narratives4 7#ab7 ,the position of ,special ,envoy on ,north ,korean ,human ,rights ,issues was vacant from ,january #bjag to ,december #bjbb1 even though the ,president is required to appoint a ,senate-confirmed ,special ,envoy to fill this position in accordance with section #ajg of the ,north ,korean ,human ,rights ,act of #bjjd 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #ghag74 ,in ,january #bjbc ,president ,biden nominated ,julie ,turner as ,special ,envoy on ,north ,korean ,human ,rights and ,issues and her nomination is currently awaiting ,senate confirmation4 #c4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 promoting information access in ,north ,korea continues to be a successful method of countering ,,dprk propaganda and the ,united ,states ,government should continue to support nongovernmental radio broadcasting to ,north ,korea and promote other emerging methods in this space2 7#b7 because refugees among ,north ,koreans fleeing into ,china face severe punishments upon their forcible return1 the ,united ,states should urge the ,government of the ,people's ,republic of ,china-- 7,a7 to immediately halt its forcible repatriation of ,north ,koreans2 7,b7 to allow the ,united ,nations ,high ,commissioner for ,refugees 7referred to in this section as ,,unhcr7 unimpeded access to ,north ,koreans within ,china to determine whether they are refugees and require assistance2 7,c7 to fulfill its obligations as a state party to the ,convention ,relating to the ,status of ,refugees1 done at ,geneva ,july #bh1 #aiea 7and made applicable by the ,protocol ,relating to the ,status of ,refugees1 done at ,new ,york ,january #ca1 #aifg 7#ai ,,ust #fbbc7 and the ,agreement on the upgrading of the ,,unhcr ,mission in the ,people's ,republic of ,china to ,,unhcr branch office in the ,people's ,republic of ,china1 done at ,geneva ,december #a1 #aiie2 7,d7 to address the concerns of the ,united ,nations ,committee ,against ,torture by incorporating into domestic legislation the principle of non-refoulement2 and 7,e7 to recognize the legal status of ,north ,korean women who marry or have children with ,chinese citizens and ensure that all such mothers and children are granted resident status and access to education and other public services in accordance with ,chinese law and international standards2 7#c7 the ,united ,states ,government should continue to promote the effective and transparent delivery and distribution of any humanitarian aid provided in ,north ,korea to ensure that such aid reaches its intended recipients to the point of consumption or utilization by cooperating closely with the ,government of the ,republic of ,korea and international and nongovernmental organizations2 7#d7 the ,department of ,state should continue to take steps to increase public awareness about the risks and dangers of travel by ,united ,states citizens to ,north ,korea1 including by continuing its policy of blocking ,united ,states passports from being used to travel to ,north ,korea without a special validation from the ,department of ,state2 7#e7 the ,united ,nations1 which has a significant role to play in promoting and improving human rights in ,north ,korea1 should press for access for the ,united ,nations ,special ,rapporteur and the ,united ,nations ,high ,commissioner for ,human ,rights on the situation of human rights in ,north ,korea2 7#f7 ,julie ,turner1 ,nominee for ,special ,envoy on ,north ,korean ,human ,rights ,issues should be confirmed without delay-- 7,a7 to properly promote and coordinate ,north ,korean human rights and humanitarian issues2 and 7,b7 to participate in policy planning and implementation with respect to refugee issues2 7#g7 the ,united ,states should urge ,north ,korea to repeal the ,reactionary ,thought and ,culture ,denunciation ,law and other draconian laws1 regulations1 and decrees that manifestly violate the freedom of opinion and expression and the freedom of thought1 conscience1 and religion2 7#h7 the ,united ,states should urge ,north ,korea to ensure that any restrictions on addressing the ,,covid-#ai pandemic are necessary1 proportionate1 nondiscriminatory1 time-bound1 transparent1 and allow international staff to operate inside the ,north ,korea to provide international assistance based on independent needs assessments2 7#i7 the ,united ,states should expand the ,rewards for ,justice program to be open to ,north ,korean officials who can provide evidence of crimes against humanity being committed by ,north ,korean officials2 7#aj7 the ,united ,states should continue to seek cooperation from all foreign governments-- 7,a7 to allow the ,,unhcr access to process ,north ,korean refugees overseas for resettlement2 and 7,b7 to allow ,united ,states officials access to process refugees for possible resettlement in the ,united ,states2 and 7#aa7 the ,secretary of ,state1 through diplomacy by senior officials1 including ,united ,states ambassadors to ,asia-,pacific countries1 and in close cooperation with ,south ,korea1 should make every effort to promote the protection of ,north ,korean refugees1 escapees1 and defectors4 #d4 ,reauthorizations 7a7 ,support for human rights and democracy programs ,section #ajb7;b77#a7 of the ,north ,korean ,human ,rights ,act of #bjjd 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #ghab7;b77#a77 is amended by striking #bjbb and inserting #bjbh4 7b7 ,actions ,to promote freedom of information ,section #ajd of the ,north ,korean ,human ,rights ,act of #bjjd 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #ghad7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7b77#a71 by striking #bjbb and inserting #bjbh2 and 7#b7 in subsection 7c71 by striking #bjbb and inserting #bjbh4 7c7 ,report by ,special ,envoy on ,north ,korean human rights issues ,section #ajg7;d7 of the ,north ,korean ,human ,rights ,act of #bjjd 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #ghag7;d77 is amended by striking #bjbb and inserting #bjbh4 7d7 ,report on ,united ,states humanitarian assistance ,section #bja7;a7 of the ,north ,korean ,human ,rights ,act of #bjjd 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #ghca7;a77 is amended1 in the matter preceding paragraph 7#a71 by striking #bjbb and inserting #bjbh4 7e7 ,assistance provided outside of ,north ,korea ,section #bjc of the ,north ,korean ,human ,rights ,act of #bjjd 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #ghcc7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7b77#b71 by striking #ajc7ae7 and inserting #ajc7ag72 and 7#b7 in subsection 7c77#a71 by striking #bjah through #bjbb and inserting #bjbc through #bjbh4 7f7 ,annual reports ,section #cje7;a7 of the ,north ,korean ,human ,rights ,act of #bjjd 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #ghde7;a77 is amended1 in the matter preceding paragraph 7#a7 by striking #bjbb and inserting #bjbh4 #e4 ,actions to promote freedom of information ,title ,i of the ,north ,korean ,human ,rights ,act of #bjjd 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #ghaa et seq47 is amended-- 7#a7 in section #ajc7;a71 by striking ,broadcasting ,board of ,governors and inserting ,united ,states ,agency for ,global ,media2 and 7#b7 in section #ajd7;a7-- 7,a7 by striking ,broadcasting ,board of ,governors each place such term appears and inserting ,united ,states ,agency for ,global ,media2 7,b7 in paragraph 7#g77;,b7-- 7i7 in the matter preceding clause 7i71 by striking #e years and inserting #aj years2 7ii7 by redesignating clauses 7i7 through 7iii7 as clauses 7ii7 through 7iv71 respectively2 7iii7 by inserting before clause 7ii7 the following3 7i7 an update of the plan required under subparagraph 7,a72 2 and 7iv7 in clause 7iii71 as redesignated1 by striking pursuant to section #djc and inserting to carry out this section4 #f4 ,special envoy for ,north ,korean human rights issues ,section #ajg of the ,north ,korean ,human ,rights ,act of #bjjd 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #ghag7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7e7 ,report on appointment of ,special ,envoy ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this subsection and annually thereafter through #bjbh if the position of ,special ,envoy remains vacant1 the ,secretary of ,state shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that describes the efforts being taken to appoint the ,special ,envoy4 4 #g4 ,sense of ,congress regarding ,korean-,american divided families ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 the ,united ,states and ,north ,korea should begin the process of reuniting ,korean-,american divided family members with their immediate relatives through ways such as-- 7,a7 identifying divided families in the ,united ,states and ,north ,korea who are willing and able to participate in a pilot program for family reunions2 7,b7 finding matches for members of such families through organizations such as the ,red ,cross2 and 7,c7 working with the ,government of ,south ,korea to include ,american citizens in inter-,korean video reunions2 7#b7 the institution of family is inalienable and the restoration of contact between divided families whether physically1 literarily1 or virtually is an urgent need2 and 7#c7 the ,united ,states and ,north ,korea should pursue reunions as a humanitarian priority of immediate concern4