H.R. 5959

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5959 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5959

To reauthorize the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004, and for other 
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 7, 2025

Mrs. Kim (for herself and Mr. Bera) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To reauthorize the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004, and for other 
purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``North Korean Human Rights 
Reauthorization Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (Public Law 
108-333; 22 U.S.C. 7801 et seq.) and subsequent 
reauthorizations of such Act aimed to promote the protection of 
human rights, documentation of human rights violations, 
transparency in the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and 
the importance of refugee protection.
(2) According to the State Department's 2023 Country 
Reports on Human Rights Practices, there are ``widespread 
reports of political prisoners and detainees . . . most 
external estimates were between 80,000 and 120,000; some NGOs 
placed the figure as high as 200,000.''.
(3) North Korea continues to hold a number of South Koreans 
and Japanese abducted after the signing of the Agreement 
Concerning a Military Armistice in Korea, signed at Panmunjom 
July 27, 1953 (commonly referred to as the ``Korean War 
Armistice Agreement''), and refuses to acknowledge the 
abduction of more than 100,000 South Koreans during the Korean 
War in violation of the Geneva Convention.
(4) According to the State Department's 2023 Country 
Reports on Human Rights Practices, there are significant human 
rights violations in North Korea, which include ``arbitrary or 
unlawful killings, including extrajudicial killings; enforced 
disappearance; torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading 
treatment; . . . and extensive gender based-violence.''.
(5) The effects of the COVID-19 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 country.
(6) North Korea's COVID-19 border lockdown measures also 
include shoot-to-kill orders that have resulted in the killing 
of--
(A) North Koreans attempting to cross the border; 
and
(B) at least 1 South Korean official in September 
2020.
(7) The Government of the People's Republic of China is 
aiding and abetting North Korea's human rights violations by 
forcibly repatriating North Korean refugees to North Korea 
where they are sent to prison camps, harshly interrogated, and 
tortured or executed.
(8) The forcible repatriation of North Korean refugees 
violates the People's Republic of China's freely undertaken 
obligation to uphold the principle of non-refoulement, as a 
state party to the Convention Relating to the Status of 
Refugees, done at Geneva July 28, 1951 (and made applicable by 
the Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, done at New 
York January 31, 1967 (19 UST 6223)).
(9) North Korea continues to deny freedom of religion and 
persecute religious minorities, especially Christians and 
followers of Shaminism. Eyewitnesses report that Christians in 
North Korea have been tortured, forcibly detained, and even 
executed for possessing a Bible or professing Christianity.
(10) The position of Special Envoy on North Korean Human 
Rights Issues was vacant from January 2017 to December 2022, 
even though the President is required to appoint a Senate-
confirmed Special Envoy to fill this position in accordance 
with section 107 of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 
(22 U.S.C. 7817). In January 2023, President Biden nominated 
Julie Turner as Special Envoy on North Korean Human Rights and 
Issues. She was confirmed in July 2023.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) 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 Government of 
North Korea;
(2) 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 space;
(3) because refugees among North Koreans fleeing into the 
People's Republic of China face severe punishments upon their 
forcible return, the United States should urge the Government 
of the People's Republic of China--
(A) to immediately halt its forcible repatriation 
of North Koreans;
(B) to allow the United Nations High Commissioner 
for Refugees (referred to in this section as ``UNHCR'') 
unimpeded access to North Koreans within China to 
determine whether they are refugees and require 
assistance;
(C) to fulfill its obligations as a state party to 
the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, done 
at Geneva July 28, 1951 (and made applicable by the 
Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, done at 
New York January 31, 1967 (19 UST 6223)), 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 China, done at Geneva December 
1, 1995;
(D) to address the concerns of the United Nations 
Committee Against Torture by incorporating into 
domestic legislation the principle of non-refoulement; 
and
(E) 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 standards;
(4) the United States 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 
organizations;
(5) the United States currently blocks United States 
passports from being used to travel to North Korea without a 
special validation from the Department of State, and 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 Korea;
(6) the United Nations has a significant role to play in 
promoting and improving human rights in North Korea and should 
press for access for the Special Rapporteur on the situation of 
human rights in North Korea, as well as for the United Nations 
High Commissioner for Human Rights;
(7) North Korea should repeal the Reactionary Thought and 
Culture Denunciation Law and other draconian laws, regulations, 
and decrees that manifestly violate the freedom of opinion and 
expression and the freedom of thought, conscience, and 
religion;
(8) 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 officials;
(9) the United States should continue to seek cooperation 
from all foreign governments--
(A) to allow the UNHCR access to process North 
Korean refugees overseas for resettlement; and
(B) to allow United States officials access to 
process refugees for possible resettlement in the 
United States; and
(10) the Secretary of State, through diplomacy by senior 
officials, including United States ambassadors to Asia-Pacific 
countries, and in close cooperation with South Korea, should 
make every effort to promote the protection of North Korean 
refugees, escapees, and defectors.

SEC. 4. REAUTHORIZATIONS.

(a) Support for Human Rights and Democracy Programs.--Section 102 
of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 7812) is 
amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``2022'' and 
inserting ``2030''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this subsection, and annually for the subsequent 5-year 
period, the Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of East Asia and Pacific 
Affairs shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a 
report on the activities undertaken in the preceding 12 months to 
coordinate and promote efforts to improve respect for the fundamental 
human rights of the people of North Korea, including--
``(1) any engagements in discussions with North Korean 
officials regarding human rights;
``(2) any support for international efforts to promote 
human rights and political freedoms in North Korea, including 
coordination and dialogue between the United States and the 
United Nations, the European Union, North Korea, and the other 
countries in Northeast Asia;
``(3) any consultation with nongovernmental organizations 
that have attempted to address human rights in North Korea;
``(4) detailed descriptions of the programs and activities 
supported through the funding authorized in subsection (b);
``(5) detailed descriptions of any strategies developed to 
improve human rights conditions in North Korea, including 
technical training and exchange programs; and
``(6) an action plan for supporting the implementation of 
the United Nations Commission on Human Rights Resolution 2004/
13.''.
(b) Actions To Promote Freedom of Information.--Section 104 of the 
North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 7814) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``2022'' and 
inserting ``2030''; and
(2) in subsection (c), by striking ``2022'' and inserting 
``2030''.
(c) Assistance Provided Outside of North Korea.--Section 203 of the 
North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 7833) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``103(15)'' and 
inserting ``103(17)''; and
(2) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ``2018 through 2022'' 
and inserting ``2025 through 2030''.
(d) Annual Reports.--Section 305(a) of the North Korean Human 
Rights Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 7845(a)) is amended, in the matter 
preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``2022'' and inserting ``2030''.

SEC. 5. ACTIONS TO PROMOTE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION.

Title I of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 
7811 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by amending section 103 to read as follows:

``SEC. 103. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

``It is the sense of Congress that--
``(1) the United States should facilitate the unhindered 
dissemination of information in North Korea by increasing its 
support for communications platforms that effectively reach the 
people of North Korea; and
``(2) all United States Government mediums intended to 
communicate directly with relevant international audiences 
should increase content dissemination above current levels to 
North Korea.''; and
(2) in section 104(a), by striking ``Broadcasting Board of 
Governors'' each place such term appears and inserting ``United 
States Government mediums intended to communicate directly with 
relevant international audiences''.

SEC. 6. SPECIAL ENVOY FOR NORTH KOREAN HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES.

Section 107 of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 
7817) is amended by striking subsection (d) and inserting the 
following:
``(d) Report on Appointment of Special Envoy.--If the position of 
Special Envoy will remain vacant for 1 year or longer without any 
presidential nomination to appoint a new Special Envoy, not later than 
90 days before the date on which such position becomes vacant for 1 
year, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report that describes the efforts being 
taken to appoint a new Special Envoy.''.

SEC. 7. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING KOREAN AMERICAN DIVIDED FAMILIES.

It is the sense of Congress--
(1) 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--
(A) identifying divided families in the United 
States and North Korea who are willing and able to 
participate in a pilot program for family reunions;
(B) finding matches for members of such families 
through organizations such as the Red Cross; and
(C) working with the Government of South Korea to 
include American citizens in inter-Korean video 
reunions;
(2) the institution of family is inalienable and the 
restoration of contact between divided families whether 
physically, literarily, or virtually is an urgent need; and
(3) the United States and North Korea should pursue 
reunions as a humanitarian priority of immediate concern.
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