South OC Times

The House Foreign Affairs Committee has passed the North Korean Human Rights Reauthorization Act (H.R. 3012), a bipartisan bill led by Indo-Pacific Subcommittee Chairwoman Young Kim (CA-40) and Ranking Member Ami Bera (CA-06). The bill aims to reauthorize and update the North Korea Human Rights Act of 2004, which was established to promote human rights and freedom in North Korea.

“Kim Jong Un oppresses the North Korean people through torture, imprisonment, starvation, and forced labor every single day. These gross human rights abuses cannot be tolerated,” said Rep. Young Kim. “Holding authoritarian regimes accountable and supporting freedom-loving people trapped under their rule are top priorities of mine as chairwoman of the Indo-Pacific Subcommittee. The North Korean Human Rights Reauthorization Act is imperative for the United States to take action to deter Kim Jong Un."

She further expressed her gratitude towards her House Foreign Affairs Committee colleagues for joining her in passing this significant bipartisan bill out of committee. She also shared her anticipation for getting this across the finish line so that the United States can counteract the North Korean regime, promote human rights for the North Korean people, and lead on the world stage as a beacon for freedom and democracy.

Representative Ami Bera, M.D., also commented on the issue: “North Korea’s oppressive regime continues to commit heinous human rights abuses against its own people, including arbitrary detention, forced disappearance, torture, and severe restrictions on freedom of religion and belief." He expressed his satisfaction with seeing the Foreign Affairs Committee advance their bipartisan legislation aimed at strengthening the United States' commitment to promoting human rights in North Korea and holding the Kim regime accountable for their ongoing abuses.

The North Korean Human Rights Act includes initiatives that Rep. Kim has worked on such as reuniting Korean American divided families with their war-torn loved ones; appointing a Special Envoy on North Korean Human Rights Issues; supporting U.S. Agency for Global Media’s broadcasting efforts to promote freedom of information in North Korea; ensuring the delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid goes to the people of North Korea and does not support military operations; and working with the United Nation’s Refugee Agency to protect and resettle refugees from North Korea.