I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7332 
To reauthorize the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 31, 2022 
Mrs. KIM of California (for herself, Mr. BERA, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, and 
Mrs. STEEL) 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 Representa-
tives 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 2022’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The North Korean Human Rights Act of 
2004 (Public Law 108–333; 22 U.S.C. 7801 et seq.) 
and subsequent reauthorizations were the product of 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:47 Apr 04, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7332.IH
H7332
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
broad, bipartisan consensus regarding the promotion 
of human rights, documentation of human rights 
violations, transparency in the delivery of humani-
tarian assistance, and the importance of refugee pro-
tection. 
(2) The human rights and humanitarian condi-
tions within the Democratic People’s Republic of 
North Korea (DPRK) remain deplorable and have 
been intentionally perpetuated against the people of 
North Korea through policies endorsed and imple-
mented by Kim Jong-Un and the Korean Workers’ 
Party. 
(3) According to a 2014 report released by the 
United Nations Commission of Inquiry, between 
80,000 and 120,000 children, women, and men are 
currently being held in political prison camps in 
North Korea and are subjected to deliberate starva-
tion, forced labor, executions, torture, rape, forced 
abortion, and infanticide. 
(4) North Korea continues to hold a number of 
South Koreans abducted after the signing of the 
1953 armistice agreement and refuses to acknowl-
edge the abduction of over 100,000 South Koreans 
during the Korean war in violation of the Geneva 
Convention. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:47 Apr 04, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7332.IH
H7332
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(5) Human rights violations in North Korea, 
which include forced starvation, sexual violence 
against women and children, restrictions on freedom 
of movement, arbitrary detention, torture, execu-
tions, and enforced disappearances, amount to 
crimes against humanity according to the United 
Nations Commission of Inquiry (COI) on Human 
Rights in the DPRK. 
(6) The effects of the COVID–19 pandemic and 
the DPRK’s strict lockdown of its borders and 
crackdowns on informal market activities and small 
entrepreneurship have drastically increased food in-
security for its people and given rise to famine con-
ditions in parts of the country. 
(7) The DPRK’s COVID–19 border lockdown 
measures also include shoot-to-kill orders that has 
resulted in the killing of North Koreans attempting 
to cross the border and at least one South Korean 
citizen in September 2020. 
(8) The Government of the People’s Republic of 
China (PRC) is aiding and abetting in crimes 
against humanity by forcibly repatriating North Ko-
rean refugees to the DPRK. Upon repatriation, 
North Koreans are sent to prison camps, harshly in-
terrogated, tortured, or executed. The Government 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:47 Apr 04, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7332.IH
H7332
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
of the People’s Republic of China’s forcible repatri-
ation of North Korean refugees violates its non- 
refoulement obligations, under the United Nations 
Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, done 
at Geneva July 28, 1951 (as made applicable by the 
Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, done at 
New York January 31, 1967 (19 UST 6223)). 
(9) The DPRK continues to bar freedom of re-
ligion and persecute religious minorities, especially 
Christians. Eyewitnesses reported that Christians in 
North Korea have been tortured, forcibly detained, 
and even executed for possessing a Bible or pro-
fessing Christianity. 
(10) Broadcasting operations into the DPRK 
serve as a critical source of outside news and infor-
mation for the North Korean people and provides a 
valuable service for countering propaganda and false 
narratives. 
(11) The position of Special Envoy on North 
Korean Human Rights Issues has been vacant since 
January 2017, although 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). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:47 Apr 04, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7332.IH
H7332
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) promoting information access in North 
Korea continues to be a successful method of coun-
tering DPRK propaganda and the United States 
Government should continue to support nongovern-
mental radio broadcasting to North Korea and pro-
mote other emerging methods in this space; 
(2) because refugees among North Koreans 
fleeing into China face severe punishments upon 
their forcible return, the United States should urge 
the Government of the People’s Republic of China 
to— 
(A) immediately halt its forcible repatri-
ation of North Koreans who would face perse-
cution or torture upon return; 
(B) allow the United Nations High Com-
missioner for Refugees (UNHCR) unimpeded 
access to North Koreans inside China to deter-
mine whether they are refugees and whether 
they require assistance; 
(C) fulfill its obligations under the 1951 
United Nations Convention Relating to the Sta-
tus of Refugees, the 1984 Convention against 
Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrad-
ing Treatment or Punishment, the 1967 Pro-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:47 Apr 04, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7332.IH
H7332
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
tocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, and 
the Agreement on the Upgrading of the 
UNHCR Mission in the People’s Republic of 
China to UNHCR Branch Office in the Peo-
ple’s Republic of China (signed December 1, 
1995); 
(D) address the concerns of the United 
Nations Committee against Torture by incor-
porating into domestic legislation the principle 
of non-refoulement; and 
(E) recognize the legal status of North Ko-
rean women who marry or have children with 
Chinese citizens, and ensure that all such moth-
ers and children are granted resident status 
and access to education and other public serv-
ices in accordance with Chinese law and con-
sistent with international standards; 
(3) the United States Government should con-
tinue to promote the effective and transparent deliv-
ery and distribution of any humanitarian aid pro-
vided in North Korea to ensure it reaches its in-
tended recipients to the point of consumption or uti-
lization by cooperating closely with the Government 
of the Republic of Korea and international and non-
governmental organizations; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:47 Apr 04, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7332.IH
H7332
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(4) the United States currently blocks United 
States passports from being used to travel to North 
Korea without a special validation from the Depart-
ment 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; 
(5) 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; 
(6) the Special Envoy for North Korean 
Human Rights Issues should be appointed without 
delay to properly promote and coordinate North Ko-
rean human rights and humanitarian issues and to 
participate in policy planning and implementation 
with respect to refugee issues; 
(7) the United States should urge North Korea 
to repeal the Reactionary Thought and Culture De-
nunciation Law and other draconian laws, regula-
tions, and decrees as their implementation mani-
festly violates the rights to freedom of opinion and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:47 Apr 04, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7332.IH
H7332
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
expression and freedom of thought, conscience, and 
religion; 
(8) the United States should urge North Korea 
to ensure that any restrictions on addressing the 
COVID–19 pandemic are necessary, proportionate, 
nondiscriminatory, time-bound, and transparent, and 
allow international staff to operate inside the DPRK 
to provide international assistance based on inde-
pendent needs assessments; 
(9) the United States should continue to seek 
cooperation from all foreign governments to allow 
the UNHCR access to process North Korean refu-
gees overseas for resettlement; and 
(10) the Secretary of State, through diplomacy 
by senior officials, including United States ambas-
sadors to Asia-Pacific countries, and in close co-
operation with South Korea, should make every ef-
fort to promote the protection of North Korean refu-
gees, escapees, and defectors. 
SEC. 4. ACTIONS TO PROMOTE FREEDOM OF INFORMA-
TION. 
(a) CONFORMING
CHANGE
OF
NAME.—Section 
104(a) of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 
(22 U.S.C. 7814(a); Public Law 108–333) is amended by 
striking ‘‘Broadcasting Board of Governors’’ each place it 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:47 Apr 04, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7332.IH
H7332
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
appears and inserting ‘‘United States Agency for Global 
Media’’. 
(b) EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIA-
TIONS.—Paragraph (1) of section 104(b) of the North Ko-
rean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 7814(b)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘2022’’ and inserting ‘‘2027’’. 
(c) EXTENSION
OF IMPLEMENTATION REPORT.— 
Subsection (c) of section 104 of the North Korean Human 
Rights Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 7814) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘2022’’ and inserting ‘‘2027’’; 
and 
(2) by striking ‘‘section.’’ and inserting: ‘‘sec-
tion, including— 
‘‘(1) an update of the plan required under sub-
paragraph (A) of subsection (a)(7); 
‘‘(2) a description of the effectiveness of actions 
taken pursuant to this section, including data re-
flecting audience and listenership, device distribution 
and usage, and technological development and ad-
vancement usage; 
‘‘(3) the amount of funds expended by the 
United States Government to carry out this section; 
and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:47 Apr 04, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7332.IH
H7332
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
‘‘(4) other appropriate information necessary to 
fully inform Congress of efforts related to this sec-
tion.’’. 
SEC. 5. REPORT ON UNITED STATES HUMANITARIAN AS-
SISTANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— Section 201(a) of the North Ko-
rean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 7831(a)) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘and’’ after 
the semicolon at the end; 
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period and 
inserting ‘‘: and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(4) the impacts of the COVID–19 pandemic 
on the North Korean people across the country and 
on the distribution of humanitarian assistance inside 
North Korea.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enact-
ment of this Act and apply beginning with the first report 
required under section 201(a) of the North Korean 
Human Rights Act of 2004, as amended by such sub-
section. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:47 Apr 04, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7332.IH
H7332
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
SEC. 6. REAUTHORIZATION PROVISIONS. 
(a) SUPPORT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY 
PROGRAMS.—Section 102(b)(1) of the North Korean 
Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 7812(b)(1)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘2022’’ and inserting ‘‘2027’’. 
(b) REPORT BY SPECIAL ENVOY FOR NORTH KO-
REAN HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES.—Section 107(d) of the 
North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 
7817(d)) is amended by striking ‘‘2022’’ and inserting 
‘‘2027’’. 
(c) REPORT ON UNITED STATES HUMANITARIAN AS-
SISTANCE.—Subsection (a) of section 201 of the North 
Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 7831) is 
amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by strik-
ing ‘‘2022’’ and inserting ‘‘2027’’. 
(d) ASSISTANCE PROVIDED OUTSIDE
OF NORTH 
KOREA.—Section 203(c)(1) of the North Korean Human 
Rights Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 7833(c)(1)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘2022’’ and inserting ‘‘2027’’. 
(e) 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 ‘‘2027’’. 
(f) SPECIAL ENVOY FOR NORTH KOREAN HUMAN 
RIGHTS ISSUES.—Section 107 of the North Korean 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:47 Apr 04, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7332.IH
H7332
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 7817) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(e) REPORT
ON
APPOINTMENT
OF
SPECIAL 
ENVOY.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this subsection and annually thereafter 
through 2027, the Secretary of State shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a report on efforts 
being taken to appoint a Special Envoy for North Korean 
human rights issues so long as such position remains va-
cant.’’. 
(g) REPORT ON NORTH KOREAN PRISON CAMPS.— 
Section 303 of the North Korea Sanctions and Policy En-
hancement Act of 2016 (22 U.S.C. 9242) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ‘‘annually 
through 2027’’ before ‘‘submit’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘The report’’ and inserting 
‘‘Each report’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘the date of the enactment 
of this Act’’ and inserting ‘‘the date of the en-
actment of the North Korean Human Rights 
Reauthorization Act of 2022’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:47 Apr 04, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7332.IH
H7332
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS