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21–979PDF 2005

THE TORTURE VICTIMS RELIEF ACT OF 2005; SUPPORTING THE

GOALS AND IDEALS OF A NATIONAL WEEKEND OF PRAYER

AND REFLECTION FOR DARFUR, SUDAN; AND CONDEMNING

THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA FOR ABDUCTIONS AND CONTINUED CAPTIVITY OF CITIZENS OF THE

REPUBLIC OF KOREA AND JAPAN AS ACTS OF TERRORISM

AND GROSS VIOLATIONS

MARKUP

BEFORE THE

SUBCOMMITTEE ON AFRICA, GLOBAL HUMAN 

RIGHTS AND INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS

OF THE

COMMITTEE ON 

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

ONE HUNDRED NINTH CONGRESS

FIRST SESSION

ON

H.R. 2017, H. Res. 333 and H. Con. Res. 168

JUNE 23, 2005

Serial No. 109–66

Printed for the use of the Committee on International Relations

Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.house.gov/international

( —relations 

(II)

COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 

HENRY J. HYDE, Illinois, Chairman 

JAMES A. LEACH, Iowa 

CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey, 

Vice Chairman 

DAN BURTON, Indiana 

ELTON GALLEGLY, California 

ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida 

DANA ROHRABACHER, California 

EDWARD R. ROYCE, California 

PETER T. KING, New York 

STEVE CHABOT, Ohio 

THOMAS G. TANCREDO, Colorado 

RON PAUL, Texas 

DARRELL ISSA, California 

JEFF FLAKE, Arizona 

JO ANN DAVIS, Virginia 

MARK GREEN, Wisconsin 

JERRY WELLER, Illinois 

MIKE PENCE, Indiana 

THADDEUS G. MCCOTTER, Michigan 

KATHERINE HARRIS, Florida 

JOE WILSON, South Carolina 

JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas 

J. GRESHAM BARRETT, South Carolina 

CONNIE MACK, Florida 

JEFF FORTENBERRY, Nebraska 

MICHAEL MCCAUL, Texas 

TED POE, Texas 

TOM LANTOS, California 

HOWARD L. BERMAN, California 

GARY L. ACKERMAN, New York 

ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American 

Samoa 

DONALD M. PAYNE, New Jersey 

ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey 

SHERROD BROWN, Ohio 

BRAD SHERMAN, California 

ROBERT WEXLER, Florida 

ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York 

WILLIAM D. DELAHUNT, Massachusetts 

GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York 

BARBARA LEE, California 

JOSEPH CROWLEY, New York 

EARL BLUMENAUER, Oregon 

SHELLEY BERKLEY, Nevada 

GRACE F. NAPOLITANO, California 

ADAM B. SCHIFF, California 

DIANE E. WATSON, California 

ADAM SMITH, Washington 

BETTY MCCOLLUM, Minnesota 

BEN CHANDLER, Kentucky 

DENNIS A. CARDOZA, California 

THOMAS E. MOONEY, SR., Staff Director/General Counsel 

ROBERT R. KING, Democratic Staff Director 

SUBCOMMITTEE ON AFRICA, GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND INTERNATIONAL

OPERATIONS

CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey, Chairman 

THOMAS G. TANCREDO, Colorado 

JEFF FLAKE, Arizona 

MARK GREEN, Wisconsin 

JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas 

JEFF FORTENBERRY, Nebraska 

EDWARD R. ROYCE, California, 

Vice Chairman 

DONALD M. PAYNE, New Jersey 

BARBARA LEE, California 

BETTY McCOLLUM, Minnesota 

BRAD SHERMAN, California 

GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York 

DIANE E. WATSON, California 

MARY M. NOONAN, Subcommittee Staff Director 

GREG SIMPKINS, Subcommittee Professional Staff Member 

NOELLE LUSANE, Democratic Professional Staff Member 

LINDSEY M. PLUMLEY, Staff Associate 

(III)

C O N T E N T S 

Page

MARKUP OF 

H.R. 2017, To amend the Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998 to authorize 

appropriations to provide assistance for domestic and foreign programs 

and centers for the treatment of victims of torture, and for other purposes .. 2

H. Res. 333, Supporting the goals and ideals of a National Weekend of 

Prayer and Reflection for Darfur, Sudan ........................................................... 7

H. Con. Res. 168, Condemning the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 

for the abductions and continued captivity of citizens of the Republic of 

Korea and Japan as acts of terrorism and gross violations of human rights. 12

Amendment to H. Con. Res. 168 offered by the Honorable Christopher 

H. Smith, a Representative in Congress from the State of New Jersey 

and Chairman, Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations .......................................................................................... 22

LETTERS, STATEMENTS, ETC., SUBMITTED FOR THE HEARING 

The Honorable Christopher H. Smith: Prepared statement on H.R. 2017 ......... 5

(1)

THE TORTURE VICTIMS RELIEF ACT OF 2005; SUPPORTING 

THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF A NATIONAL WEEKEND OF 

PRAYER AND REFLECTION FOR DARFUR, SUDAN; AND 

CONDEMNING THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF 

KOREA FOR ABDUCTIONS AND CONTINUED CAPTIVITY OF 

CITIZENS OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA AND JAPAN AS 

ACTS OF TERRORISM AND GROSS VIOLATIONS 

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2005

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON AFRICA, GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS

AND INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS, COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, Washington, DC. 

The Subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 4:05 p.m. in room 

2172, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Christopher H. Smith 

(Chairman of the Subcommittee) presiding. 

Mr. SMITH. Pursuant to notice, I call up the bill, H.R. 2017, The 

Torture Victims Relief Act of 2005, for purposes of markup and 

move its recommendation to the Full Committee. 

Without objection, the bill will be considered as read and open 

for amendment at any point. 

[H.R. 2017 follows:]

2

1

I

109TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 2017

To amend the Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998 to authorize appropriations

to provide assistance for domestic and foreign programs and centers

for the treatment of victims of torture, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APRIL 28, 2005

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. LANTOS, Mr. WOLF, Mr. CARDIN,

Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. BERMAN, Mr. PITTS, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr.

RAMSTAD, Mr. OBERSTAR, Mr. SHAYS, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Mr. KIRK, Mr.

ACKERMAN, Ms. MCCOLLUM of Minnesota, Mr. WAXMAN, Mr. PALLONE,

Mr. LEVIN, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. TERRY, Mr. SABO, Mr. EVANS, Mr. OLVER,

Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Mr. HINCHEY, Ms. ZOE

LOFGREN of California, Mrs. MALONEY, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr.

FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr. DAVIS of Florida, Mrs. DAVIS of California, Mr. ALLEN, Mr.

MCNULTY, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. BECERRA, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mr.

DEFAZIO, Mr. FILNER, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. SNYDER, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. CUMMINGS, Ms. LEE, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. MICHAUD, Mr.

GRIJALVA, and Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota) introduced the following bill;

which was referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in

addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be

subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration

of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To amend the Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998 to authorize appropriations to provide assistance for domestic and

foreign programs and centers for the treatment of victims of torture, and for other purposes.


21979a.AAB
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2

•HR 2017 IH

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Torture Victims Relief

5 Reauthorization Act of 2005’’.

6 SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

7 It is the policy of the United States—

8 (1) to ensure that, in its support abroad for

9 programs and centers for the treatment of victims of

10 torture, particular incentives and support should be

11 given to establishing and supporting such programs

12 and centers in emerging democracies, in post-conflict

13 environments, and, with a view to providing services

14 to refugees and internally displaced persons, in areas

15 as close to ongoing conflict as safely as possible; and

16 (2) to ensure that, in its support for domestic

17 programs and centers for the treatment of victims of

18 torture, particular attention should be given to re19 gions with significant immigrant or refugee popu20 lations.

21 SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR DOMES22 TIC TREATMENT CENTERS FOR VICTIMS OF

23 TORTURE.

24 Section 5(b)(1) of the Torture Victims Relief Act of

25 1998 (22 U.S.C. 2152 note) is amended to read as follows:


21979a.AAC
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3

•HR 2017 IH

1 ‘‘(1) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Of

2 the amounts authorized to be appropriated for the

3 Department of Health and Human Services for fis4 cal years 2006 and 2007, there are authorized to be

5 appropriated to carry out subsection (a)

6 $25,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2006 and

7 2007.’’.

8 SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR FOR9 EIGN TREATMENT CENTERS FOR VICTIMS OF

10 TORTURE.

11 Section 4(b)(1) of the Torture Victims Relief Act of

12 1998 (22 U.S.C. 2152 note) is amended to read as follows:

13 ‘‘(1) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Of

14 the amounts authorized to be appropriated for fiscal

15 years 2006 and 2007 pursuant to chapter 1 of part

16 I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, there are

17 authorized to be appropriated to the President to

18 carry out section 130 of such Act $12,000,000 for

19 fiscal year 2006 and $13,000,000 for fiscal year

20 2007.’’.


21979a.AAD
5

Mr. SMITH. I do have a rather lengthy statement which I will dispense with, other than to ask unanimous consent that it be made 

a part of the record. 

[The prepared statement of Mr. Smith follows:]

PREPARED STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, A REPRESENTA- TIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND CHAIRMAN, SUB- COMMITTEE ON AFRICA, GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS

In 1998, Congress took an historic step toward repairing the broken lives of thousands of men and women. Now we have to go even further both to help the victims 

of torture and to reach out to those who still have no place to turn in their suffering. 

I hope my colleagues here today will join me in supporting H.R. 2017, the Torture 

Victims Relief Reauthorization Act. 

Nationwide, there are an estimated 400,000 torture survivors, most of whom came 

to the United States as refugees. Worldwide, it is impossible to count the numbers. 

While we redouble our efforts to prevent and punish the perpetrators of torture, we 

must continue to seek to heal its victims. 

Section 2 of H.R. 2017 is a statement of policy designed to ensure that, domestically, particular attention is given to regions with significant immigrant and refugee 

populations and, abroad, particular attention is given to supporting treatment centers and programs in emerging democracies and in post-conflict environments. 

Section 4 of the new bill authorizes $12 million for FY 2006 and $13 million for 

FY 2007 for centers and programs administered through USAID’s Victims of Torture Fund. Non-governmental organizations that receive this funding provide direct 

services to survivors, their families, and communities. They also strengthen institutions on the ground and the indigenous capacity of these institutions to deliver services to survivors. In addition to providing treatment, many of these programs advocate for the elimination of torture in their countries. 

Section 5 authorizes $7 million for FY 2006 and $ 8 million for FY 2007 for the 

UN Voluntary Fund for the Victims of Torture. In 2001—in that year alone—the 

UN Fund assisted 77,928 victims of torture. 

As our witnesses have testified, the impact of torture can be felt throughout society for years: lives are broken and lost; often political activists as well as their families and communities are frightened and become disengaged from public life; trust 

in public institutions is destroyed; political apathy is a lesson learned and lived out 

every day. Unless we find ways to understand and to heal the legacy of torture, our 

efforts to build democratic institutions around the globe will fail. 

You can’t help but be proud of the help this country has given to torture victims 

around the globe. But when you start looking at the numbers and at the scope of 

the problem, you see that the need far outstrips the services available. We should 

not turn our backs on that suffering.

Mr. SMITH. I am mindful of my good friends’ and colleagues’ time 

constraints. But this legislation does provide a number of important sections dealing with authorization for funding. And again, I 

think Members are very aware of what the bill is. Most on this 

Committee are cosponsors. 

Ms. McCollum. 

Ms. MCCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, in light of the testimony that we received in the hearing and the fact that you are going to be having 

discussions with ORR, is it your intention, if we need to strengthen 

language, to bring forward a manager’s amendment or an amendment at the next——

Mr. SMITH. We would be more than happy to talk with the gentlewoman. Every bill that I have ever worked on is always a work 

in progress. We do have a good, strong consensus for the language, 

but if there is something you would like to work with us on, we 

would be more than happy to meet with the gentlelady and perhaps do a manager’s amendment or an amendment you would like 

to offer at the time. 

Ms. MCCOLLUM. Thank you, Mr. Chair. 

Mr. SMITH. We’ll gladly work with you. 

6

Mr. Payne. 

Mr. PAYNE. I support the amendment as read and urge its adoption. 

Mr. SMITH. Okay. The question occurs on the motion, if the gentlewoman makes the motion, to report the bill, H.R. 2017, The Torture Victims Relief Authorization Act of 2005. All those in favor, 

say aye. All those opposed, no. The motion is approved. The bill is 

reported favorably. The staff is directed to make any technical and 

conforming amendments. 

And now I would like to call up our second resolution. Pursuant 

to notice, I call up the resolution, H. Res. 333, Supporting the goals 

and ideals of a National Weekend of Prayer and Reflection for 

Darfur, Sudan, for purposes of markup and move its recommendation to the Full Committee. Without objection, the bill will be considered as read and open for amendment at any point. 

[H. Res. 333 follows:]

7

1

IV

109TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. RES. 333

Supporting the goals and ideals of a National Weekend of Prayer and

Reflection for Darfur, Sudan.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JUNE 20, 2005

Mr. PAYNE (for himself, Mr. TANCREDO, Mr. WEXLER, Mr. WOLF, Mr. LANTOS, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. CONYERS, and Ms.

LEE) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

RESOLUTION

Supporting the goals and ideals of a National Weekend of

Prayer and Reflection for Darfur, Sudan.

Whereas, on July 22, 2004, Congress declared that genocide

was taking place in Darfur, Sudan;

Whereas, on September 9, 2004, Secretary of State Colin L.

Powell testified to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations that ‘‘genocide has been committed in Darfur’’;

Whereas, on September 21, 2004, President George W. Bush

stated to the United Nations General Assembly that ‘‘the

world is witnessing terrible suffering and horrible crimes

in the Darfur region of Sudan, crimes my government

has concluded are genocide’’;


21979b.AAB
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2

•HRES 333 IH

Whereas Article 1 of the Convention on the Prevention and

Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, done at Paris December 9, 1948, and entered into force January 12,

1951, states that ‘‘[t]he Contracting Parties confirm that

genocide, whether committed in time of peace or in time

of war, is a crime under international law which they undertake to prevent and to punish’’;

Whereas fundamental human rights, including the right to

freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, are protected in numerous international agreements and declarations;

Whereas the United Nations Security Council, in Security

Council Resolution 1591, condemned the ‘‘continued violations of the N’djamena Ceasefire Agreement of 8 April

2004 and the Abuja Protocols of 9 November 2004 by

all sides in Darfur and the deterioration of the security

situation and negative impact this has had on humanitarian assistance efforts’’;

Whereas scholars estimate that as many as 400,000 have

died from violence, hunger, and disease since the outbreak of conflict in Darfur began in 2003, and that as

many as 10,000 may be dying each month;

Whereas it is estimated that more than 2,000,000 people

have been displaced from their homes and remain in

camps in Darfur and Chad;

Whereas religious leaders, genocide survivors, and world leaders have expressed grave concern over the continuing

atrocities taking place in Darfur; and

Whereas it is appropriate that the people of the United

States, leaders and citizens alike, unite in prayer for the


21979b.AAC
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3

•HRES 333 IH

people of Darfur and reflect upon the situation in

Darfur: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

2 (1) supports the goals and ideals of a National

3 Weekend of Prayer and Reflection for Darfur,

4 Sudan;

5 (2) encourages the people of the United States

6 to observe that weekend by praying for an end to the

7 genocide and crimes against humanity and for last8 ing peace in Darfur, Sudan; and

9 (3) urges all churches, synagogues, mosques,

10 and religious institutions in the United States to

11 consider the issue of Darfur in their activities and

12 to observe the National Weekend of Prayer and Re13 flection with appropriate activities and services.

Æ


21979b.AAD
10

Mr. SMITH. At this point, I would like to yield to my friend and 

colleague, the prime sponsor of the resolution, Mr. Payne. 

Mr. PAYNE. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate 

your bringing up the legislation, Supporting the Goals and Ideas of 

the National Weekend of Prayer and Reflection for Darfur, Sudan. 

The Senate has rules that are different than the House. In the Senate, Senator Corzine from New Jersey and Senator Brownback 

from Kansas have introduced a resolution that calls for the weekend of July 14 and 15 to be the National Weekend of Prayer and 

Reflection for Darfur, Sudan. The purpose of this is really to encourage communities to have discussions, church groups to have 

civic groups, United Nations groups, school groups to have on their 

agenda so that we could heighten the awareness of what is happening as the genocide continues in Sudan and to also let us know 

that we are not satisfied with the recent overtures of the Government of Sudan. 

In the House, though, the rules are restrictive. It is not in order 

to name dates, and therefore, with legislative counsel, we had to 

remove the specific date. We are urging that we support the National Weekend of Prayer, and, as I indicated, it is specific in the 

Senate legislation, but we will then try to inform people as to when 

the weekend is and join in with the Senate’s bill, since it is specific. 

But this is an accompanying bill. And I would urge that it resolves 

that we support the goals and ideas of a National Weekend of 

Prayer and Reflection for Darfur, Sudan; encourages the people of 

the United States to observe that weekend by praying for an end 

to the genocide and crimes against humanity and for lasting peace 

in Darfur, Sudan; and urges all churches, synagogues, mosques and 

religious institutions in the United States to consider the issue of 

Darfur in their activities and to observe the National Weekend of 

Prayer and Reflection with appropriate activities and services. 

And so we did it quickly. It came to us real quick. We just found 

out what the Senate was doing. They asked us to immediately have 

a companion bill. But as I indicated, the restrictions in the House 

made it impossible. So I would urge my colleagues to support the 

act. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

Mr. SMITH. Thank you very much. 

Ms. Lee. 

Ms. LEE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

Let me thank you, Congressman Payne, for your continued leadership on the issue of Darfur, and also to our Chairman for helping 

to make sure that the issues of genocide and our response to them 

and our ability to tackle them as Members of Congress are conducted in a bipartisan way. 

This resolution, I think, is very important. Oftentimes, however, 

we forget that, and I know there is a passage in the Scripture 

about prayer and works, faith and deeds. We have to make sure 

that we, as we bring our religious leaders together, that we reflect 

upon these atrocities and the genocide that is taking place and the 

displacement of families and children, that we also recommit ourselves to work, to end this genocide. And so I believe that this is 

a very important message to send to the rest of the world that we 

understand the power of prayer, and we also understand that following our prayers and following these national days of reflection, 

11

that we have a lot of work to do if we, in fact, want our prayers 

to be answered. Thank you very much. 

Mr. SMITH. I thank the gentlelady for her statement. I want to 

thank Mr. Payne for authoring this resolution. I, too, as one of the 

cosponsors, absolutely concur. In the book of James, we are told 

that faith without works is dead. We are trying as a country to do 

works. Obviously, yesterday’s hearing was tangible evidence that 

Congress, in a bipartisan way, is trying to provide funding; trying 

to empower the African Union Peace Initiative with the peacekeepers on the ground. All of that is fine. But it needs to be undergirded and inspired by prayer. 

It was Abraham Lincoln who began the first day of prayer and 

fasting to try to heal our broken country after the savagery of the 

Civil War and that horrific institution known as slavery. It was 

only through prayer and fasting that some of that healing was able 

to take place. So I think this cause is very, very worthwhile and 

very, very timely. The people of Darfur have suffered enough. We 

need tangible deeds coupled with faith. I thank the gentlelady and 

the gentleman. 

Would any other Member like to be heard? If not, are there any 

amendments to the resolution? If not, the question occurs on the 

motion to report the resolution, H. Res. 333, favorably. All those in 

favor, say aye. All those opposed, no. The ayes have it. The motion 

is approved. Staff is directed to make any technical and conforming 

amendments to the resolution just passed. 

Pursuant to notice, I call up the resolution, H. Con. Res. 168, 

Condemning the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for the abductions and continued captivity of citizens of the Republic of 

Korea and Japan as acts of terrorism and gross violations of 

human rights, for purposes of markup and move its recommendations to the Full Committee. Without objection, the resolution will 

be considered as read and open for amendment at any point. 

[H. Con. Res. 168 follows:]

12

1

IV

109TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 168

Condemning the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for the abductions

and continued captivity of citizens of the Republic of Korea and Japan

as acts of terrorism and gross violations of human rights.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAY 26, 2005

Mr. HYDE (for himself, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. SHIMKUS, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Mr.

PITTS, Mr. LYNCH, and Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on

International Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Condemning the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for

the abductions and continued captivity of citizens of the

Republic of Korea and Japan as acts of terrorism and

gross violations of human rights.

Whereas since the end of the Korean War, the Government

of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has kidnapped thousands of South Korean citizens and as many

as a hundred Japanese citizens, including Rumiko

Masumoto, Megumi Yokota, and Reverend Kim Dongshik;

Whereas the forced detention and frequent murder of those

individuals abducted by North Korea have caused untold

grief and suffering to their families;


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•HCON 168 IH

Whereas on September 17, 2002, after considerable pressure

from the Government of Japan, North Korean leader

Kim Jong-il admitted that agents of his government had

abducted thirteen Japanese citizens in the 1970s and

1980s and assured Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro

Koizumi that this would never happen again;

Whereas despite assurances to the contrary, North Korea

continues to order and carry out abductions, and, as recently as August 8, 2004, North Korean agents operating

along the Chinese border kidnapped Ms. Jin Kyung-sook,

a former North Korean refugee and South Korean passport-holder;

Whereas the abduction policy of North Korea has been integral to its espionage and terrorist activities, and

abductees have been kidnapped to work as spies, to train

North Korean agents in language, accents, and culture,

and to steal identities, as in the case of Mr. Tadaaki

Hara;

Whereas the Pyongyang regime used abductee Ms. Yaeko

Taguchi as the Japanese language instructor for North

Korean terrorist Kim Hyon-hee, who was caught carrying

a Japanese passport after planting a bomb on Korean

Air Lines flight 858 that killed 115 people in 1987;

Whereas many victims of North Korean abduction have been

seized during terrorist attacks, as in the hijacking of

South Korean planes in 1958 and 1969, and, decades

later, Pyongyang continues to hold twelve passengers of

a hijacked Korean Air flight, including passenger Mr.

Chang Ji-young and flight attendant Ms. Song Kyong-hi,

who has since been allowed a brief visit by her South Korean family;


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3

•HCON 168 IH

Whereas North Korean agents have hijacked numerous South

Korean ships and kidnapped the seamen and fishermen

aboard the vessels, such as Choi Jong-suk, Kim Soonkeun, and ten other crewmen of the Dongjin 27, a ship

that was seized in 1987, and Seoul estimates that hundreds of these abductees are still alive in North Korea;

Whereas boat hijackings and the kidnapping of fishermen

have devastated South Korean fishing communities, such

as Nongso village on the southern island of Geoje, a community of 210 people that lost 14 sons, husbands, and

fathers when North Korea seized three ships in 1971 and

1972;

Whereas the North Korean authorities conspired with members of the Japanese Red Army, a group designated as

a terrorist organization by the United States Department

of State, to kidnap Keiko Arimoto, a young Japanese

woman studying abroad;

Whereas according to the records of the Unification Ministry

of the Republic of Korea, 486 South Korean abductees

are still alive and being held in North Korea, and among

these individuals are fishermen, seamen, airline passengers, teachers, students, and pastors;

Whereas North Korean agents have abducted children, causing unimaginable anguish to parents who live decades

with the uncertainty of what has happened to their child,

as in the cases of Takeshi Terakoshi, a thirteen-year-old

boy kidnapped from a fishing boat with his two uncles,

and Lee Min-gyo and Choi Seung-min, two seventeenyear-old friends abducted off a beach in South Korea;

Whereas North Korean agents kidnapped thirteen-year-old

Megumi Yokota, as she was walking home from school,


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4

•HCON 168 IH

and subsequently reported that she married and had a

daughter in North Korea before committing suicide in

1993, and that Megumi’s daughter remains there separated from her family in Japan;

Whereas the Pyongyang regime has abducted a number of

South Korean ministers who were bravely working to rescue North Koreans escaping on the underground railroad

through China, including Reverend Ahn Seung-woon and

Reverend Kim Dong-shik, the latter of whose welfare is

of particular importance to representatives of the State

of Illinois;

Whereas on April 21, 2005, the Seoul Central District Court

convicted Chinese citizen Ryu Young-hwa of assisting

North Korean agents in the abduction of Reverend Kim

and, further, that a Chinese court convicted a North Korean citizen of masterminding the abduction of Reverend

Ahn, and deported the agent to North Korea in July

1997 following a two-year prison term;

Whereas some of the abductees have risked their lives in trying to escape North Korea, as in the case of South Korean fisherman Im Kuk-jae, who has twice attempted to

escape since his kidnapping in 1987, and is now believed

to be imprisoned in one of North Korea’s notorious labor

camps;

Whereas the North Korean regime continues to deceive the

international community regarding its ongoing abductions

and has furnished false information concerning eight

Japanese abductees, including suspicious accounts of

their supposed premature deaths;

Whereas the Government of North Korea has never convincingly accounted for Ms. Rumiko Masumoto and Mr.


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•HCON 168 IH

Shuichi Ichikawa, kidnapped by Pyongyang agents from

a beach in Japan on August 12, 1978, and claims that

Mr. Ichikawa drowned in the sea, despite his dislike of

swimming, and that the formerly healthy Ms. Masumoto

died of a heart attack at the age of 27;

Whereas North Korea claims abductees Mr. Toru Ishioka and

Ms. Keiko Arimoto, who were kidnapped separately in

Europe and later married, supposedly died together with

their small daughter of gas poisoning in 1988, two

months after they were successful in getting a letter out

of North Korea to family members in Japan;

Whereas although the Pyongyang regime claimed to return

the alleged cremated remains of Mr. Kaoru Matsuki and

Ms. Megumi Yokota to Japanese officials, both remains

appear not to be authentic, and, according to Pyongyang,

the bodies of the six remaining Japanese abductees have

conveniently been washed away during flooding and cannot be recovered to verify the causes of their untimely

deaths;

Whereas despite the efforts of the Japanese Government, the

Pyongyang regime continues to deny any knowledge of

the abductions of Mr. Yutaka Kume, Mr. Minoru Tanaka, and Ms. Miyoshi Soga, the mother of another acknowledged abductee, despite overwhelming evidence of

North Korean collusion in their disappearances;

Whereas North Korean abductions have not been limited to

northeast Asia and many documented abductees have

been kidnapped while abroad, such as Mr. Lee Chaehwan, a young MIT graduate student traveling in Austria, and Mr. Ko Sang-moon, a South Korean teacher

kidnapped in Norway, making the issue of serious concern to the international community;


21979c.AAF
17

6

•HCON 168 IH

Whereas there have been credible reports that North Korea

may have abducted citizens from many other countries in

addition to South Korea and Japan, including persons

from China, Europe, and the Middle East;

Whereas for more than fifty years, North Korea has held

South Korean prisoners-of-war captured during the Korean War, in clear violation of Article III of the Korean

War Armistice Agreement signed on July 27, 1953, and

the South Korean Ministry of National Defense estimates

that 542 captives are still alive in North Korea, according to testimony given before the National Assembly in

February 2005;

Whereas according to the testimony of prisoners-of-war who

have successfully escaped from North Korea, South Korean prisoners-of-war have been forced to perform hard

labor for decades, often in mines, and are harshly treated

by the Pyongyang regime;

Whereas after being forcibly held in North Korea for fiftyone years, South Korean prisoner-of-war Han Man-taek,

age 72, escaped to China, was detained by Chinese police

and forcibly repatriated to North Korea earlier this year,

where he inevitably faced punitive measures and possible

execution; and

Whereas these South Korean prisoners-of-war served under

the United Nations Command, fighting alongside their

American and Allied fellow soldiers, and therefore are the

direct concern of the Allied nations who contributed

forces during the Korean War: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That Congress—


21979c.AAG
18

7

•HCON 168 IH

1 (1) condemns the Government of the Demo2 cratic People’s Republic of Korea for the abduction

3 and continued captivity of citizens of the Republic of

4 Korea and Japan as acts of terrorism and gross vio5 lations of human rights;

6 (2) calls upon the North Korean Government to

7 immediately cease and desist from carrying out ab8 ductions, release all victims of kidnapping and pris9 oners-of-war still alive in North Korea, and provide

10 a full and verifiable accounting of all other cases;

11 (3) recognizes that resolution of the nuclear

12 issue with North Korea is of critical importance,

13 however, this should not preclude United States

14 Government officials from raising abduction cases

15 and other critical human rights concerns in any fu16 ture negotiations with the North Korean regime;

17 (4) calls upon the United States Government

18 not to remove the Democratic People’s Republic of

19 Korea from the Department of State’s list of State

20 Sponsors of Terrorism until such time that North

21 Korea renounces state-sponsored kidnapping and

22 provides a full accounting of all abduction cases; and

23 (5) admonishes the Government of the People’s

24 Republic of China for the forced repatriation to

25 North Korea of Han Man-taek, a South Korean


21979c.AAH
19

8

•HCON 168 IH

1 prisoner-of-war and comrade-in-arms of the United

2 States, and for its failure to exercise sovereign con3 trol over teams of North Korean agents operating

4 freely within its borders.

Æ


21979c.AAI
20

Mr. SMITH. I would like to make an opening statement to explain 

this resolution. During the past 50 years, the North Korean Government has kidnapped thousands of innocent South Korean and 

Japanese citizens. 

These horrific crimes finally received international attention 2 

years ago when North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, admitted that 

agents of his government abducted 13 Japanese citizens in the 

1970s and 1980s. However, the 13 acknowledged cases are only the 

tip of the iceberg. For decades, Pyongyang has routinely abducted 

fishermen working out at sea, young couples strolling on deserted 

beaches, students studying abroad in Europe, pastors assisting 

North Korean refugees in China and even teenagers attending 

summer camp. While many of these abductees have been murdered 

at the hands of Pyongyang, hundreds of these kidnapping victims 

are still alive in North Korea. 

The North Korean Abduction Program is inextricably linked to 

its espionage and terrorist activities. Many abductees have been 

seized in conjunction with North Korean terrorist acts, such as 

plane and ship hijackings. The regime has then used abductees to 

steal identities for North Korean agents, work as spies for 

Pyongyang and train North Korean agents in language and culture. 

In one instance, North Korea abducted Ms. Taguchi as the Japanese language instructor for North Korean terrorist, Kim Hyonhee. Kim was caught carrying a Japanese passport after planting 

a bomb on Korean Airlines Flight 858 that killed 115 people in 

1987. 

In addition to its kidnappings, North Korea also continues to 

hold hundreds of South Korean prisoners of war in violation of the 

Korean War Armistice Agreement of 1953. These men, who served 

under the United Nations Command and fought side-by-side with 

American troops, have been held captive for more than 50 years, 

largely forgotten by their countrymen and allies. The POWs have 

been forced to perform decades of hard labor, many of them slaving 

in dangerous underground mines until their deaths. Over the last 

decade, a handful of these elderly veterans have successfully escaped North Korea by traveling through China and eventually have 

made their way home to South Korea. Others have been less fortunate. Last December, POW Han Man-taek, age 72, was picked up 

by Chinese authorities while trying to reach relatives in South 

Korea. The Chinese forcibly repatriated Han to North Korea. While 

the fate of this brave man is unknown, he inevitably faced brutal 

punishment and was probably executed. 

H. Con. Res. 168, authored by Chairman Henry Hyde, condemns 

North Korea for its abductions and demands Pyongyang’s release 

of all kidnapping victims and prisoners of war. The resolution calls 

on the U.S. Government not to remove North Korea from the Department of State’s list of State Sponsors of Terrorism until North 

Korea renounces state-sponsored kidnapping and provides a full accounting of all abduction cases. The resolution also admonishes the 

People’s Republic of China for the forced repatriation of Han Mantaek. I would like to urge my colleagues to support this important 

resolution that seeks to aid so many of the forgotten victims of the 

North Korean regime. 

Would any other Member like to be heard on the resolution? 

21

Mr. Payne. 

Mr. PAYNE. Just very quickly, Mr. Chairman. I certainly support 

your resolution. I think that we have to really insist that all governments, you know, deal with the rule of law. Governments have 

different ideologies. We think that our form of government is the 

best, and we know that, at the end of the day, countries that have 

governments that are totalitarian and socialist, Communist countries will find perhaps that, by and by, that system will change. 

But, regardless, whatever form of government that government 

has—whether it is imposed on them, whether it is the will of the 

people—that those governments must work in the family of nations, and that they should not be allowed to be pariah governments that do not adhere to the rule of law. So I support your 

House Con. Res. 168 and urge its passage. 

Mr. SMITH. Ms. McCollum. 

Ms. MCCOLLUM. Thank you. I have a point. It is more of a clarification. I am assuming, having read this, that we are working 

with the Governments of Japan and South Korea in some ways in 

order to have their official accounting of those who have been kidnapped. Am I correct in that assumption? 

Mr. SMITH. The gentlelady is correct. 

Ms. MCCOLLUM. Thank you, Mr. Chair. 

Mr. SMITH. I have an amendment at the desk which, without objection, will be considered as read. 

[The amendment referred to follows:]

22

1

H.L.C.

AMENDMENT TO H. CON. RES. 168

OFFERED BY MR. SMITH OF NEW JERSEY

Amend the 11th clause of the preamble to read as

follows:

Whereas the Unification Ministry of the Republic of

Korea has confirmed that 486 abduction cases involving South Korean citizens remain unresolved, and

that these cases include fishermen, seamen, airline

passengers, teachers, students, and pastors, many of

whom are still alive and being held in North Korea;

After the 13th clause of the preamble, insert the following new clause:

Whereas on April 5, 1971, North Korean agents abducted Yu Song-gun, a South Korean diplomat stationed at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in

West Germany, his wife, and two young daughters,

ages 7 and 1, while the family was believed to be in

Berlin;

After the 24th clause of the preamble (as redesignated), insert the following new clauses:

Whereas North Korea routinely engaged in the kidnapping of South Korean citizens during the Korean

War from 1950 to 1953, and, according to a 1956

survey conducted by the Korean National Red Cross,

7,034 South Korean civilians were abducted during

the conflict;


21979d.AAB
23

2

H.L.C.

Whereas Pyongyang has refused to allow the release of

a single wartime abductee despite a provision allowing civilian abductees to return home in Article III

of the Korean War Armistice Agreement, a document

signed by representatives from the United States,

North Korea, and China;


21979d.AAC
24

Mr. SMITH. I recognize myself just for a moment or 2 to explain 

it. The amendment to H. Con. Res. 168, Chairman Hyde’s resolution, focuses on the abduction of South Korean and Japanese citizens after the Korean War. However, the North Korean regime 

began carrying out the abductions long before the signing of the 

Korean War Armistice Agreement. According to the Korean National Red Cross, 7,034 South Korean civilians were abducted during the course of the war. Although Pyongyang agreed to release 

these kidnapped civilians when it signed the armistice, not a single 

wartime abductee has been allowed to return home. The amendment seeks to include these wartime victims in the Hyde resolution. 

The amendment also raises the 1971 abduction of South Korean 

diplomat Yu Song-gun, his wife and two children in Berlin. The 

diplomatic status of Yu and the young age of his daughters, ages 

7 and 1, merits special attention. I would ask favorable consideration by the Members for that. 

Would anyone like to be heard on this amendment or the underlying resolution? The question then occurs on the amendment. All 

those in favor, say aye. Those opposed, say no. The ayes have it. 

The amendment is agreed to. 

The question now occurs on the motion to report the resolution, 

H. Con. Res. 168, Condemning the Democratic People’s Republic of 

Korea for the abductions and continued captivity of citizens of the 

Republic of Korea and Japan as acts of terrorism and gross violations of human rights, as amended. All those in favor, say aye. All 

those opposed, no. The ayes have it. The motion is approved, and 

the resolution is reported favorably. 

Without objection, the resolution will be reported favorably to the 

Full Committee in the form of a single amendment in the nature 

of a substitute incorporating the amendment adopted here today. 

Without objection, the staff is directed to make any technical and 

conforming amendments. 

The Chair recognizes Mr. Payne. 

Mr. PAYNE. Just for a point of personal privilege. As we indicated, House resolutions cannot indicate dates. I did indicate that 

it was the 14th and 15th. The actual Senate date for the weekend 

of prayer is the 15th to the 17th. That is Friday to Sunday, covering Islamic, synagogues and Christian churches, so the 15th to 

the 17th. 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

Mr. SMITH. Would anybody else like to be heard before we adjourn? Without objection, the markup is adjourned. Thank you very 

much. 

[Whereupon, at 4:20 p.m., the Subcommittee was adjourned.]

Æ