Ambassador James R. Lilley and Congressman Stephen J. Solarz North Korea Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2012
PL 112-172 (H.R.4240), enacted 08/16/2012

126 STAT. 1307 
PUBLIC LAW 112–172—AUG. 16, 2012 
Public Law 112–172 
112th Congress 
An Act 
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 ‘‘Ambassador James R. Lilley 
and Congressman Stephen J. Solarz North Korea Human Rights 
Reauthorization Act of 2012’’. 
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 the North Korean 
Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2008 (Public Law 110– 
346) were the product of broad, bipartisan consensus regarding 
the promotion of human rights, transparency in the delivery 
of humanitarian assistance, and the importance of refugee 
protection. 
(2) In addition to the longstanding commitment of the 
United States to refugee and human rights advocacy, the 
United States is home to the largest Korean population outside 
of northeast Asia, and many in the two-million strong Korean- 
American community have family ties to North Korea. 
(3) Although the transition to the leadership of Kim Jong- 
Un after the death of Kim Jong-Il has introduced new 
uncertainties and possibilities, the fundamental human rights 
and humanitarian conditions inside North Korea remain deplor-
able, North Korean refugees remain acutely vulnerable, and 
the findings in the 2004 Act and 2008 Reauthorization remain 
substantially accurate today. 
(4) Media and nongovernmental organizations have 
reported a crackdown on unauthorized border crossing during 
the North Korean leadership transition, including authorization 
for on-the-spot execution of attempted defectors, as well as 
an increase in punishments during the 100-day official 
mourning period after the death of Kim Jong-Il. 
(5) Notwithstanding high-level advocacy by the United 
States, the Republic of Korea, and the United Nations High 
Commissioner for Refugees, China has continued to forcibly 
repatriate North Koreans, including dozens of presumed refu-
gees who were the subject of international humanitarian 
appeals during February and March of 2012. 
(6) The United States, which has the largest international 
refugee resettlement program in the world, has resettled 128 
Kim Jong-Un. 
Kim Jong-Il. 
Ambassador 
James R. Lilley 
and 
Congressman 
Stephen J. Solarz 
North Korea 
Human Rights 
Reauthorization 
Act of 2012. 
22 USC 7801 
note. 
22 USC 7801 
note. 
Aug. 16, 2012 
[H.R. 4240] 
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126 STAT. 1308 
PUBLIC LAW 112–172—AUG. 16, 2012 
North Koreans since passage of the 2004 Act, including 23 
North Koreans in fiscal year 2011. 
(7) In a career of Asia-focused public service that spanned 
more than half a century, including service as a senior United 
States diplomat in times and places where there were signifi-
cant challenges to human rights, Ambassador James R. Lilley 
also served as a director of the Committee for Human Rights 
in North Korea until his death in 2009. 
(8) Following his 18 years of service in the House of Rep-
resentatives, including as Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Sub-
committee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Stephen J. Solarz 
committed himself to, in his words, highlighting ‘‘the plight 
of ordinary North Koreans who are denied even the most basic 
human rights, and the dramatic and heart-rending stories of 
those who risk their lives in the struggle to escape what is 
certainly the world’s worst nightmare’’, and served as co-chair-
man of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea until 
his death in 2010. 
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the United States should continue to seek cooperation 
from foreign governments to allow the United States to process 
North Korean refugees overseas for resettlement in the United 
States, through persistent diplomacy by senior officials of the 
United States, including United States ambassadors to Asia- 
Pacific countries, and close cooperation with its ally, the 
Republic of Korea; and 
(2) because there are genuine refugees among North 
Koreans fleeing into China who face severe punishments upon 
their forcible return, the United States should urge the People’s 
Republic of China to— 
(A) immediately halt its forcible repatriation of North 
Koreans; 
(B) fulfill its obligations pursuant to the 1951 United 
Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, 
the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, and 
the 1995 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; and 
(C) allow the United Nations High Commissioner for 
Refugees (UNHCR) unimpeded access to North Koreans 
inside China to determine whether such North Koreans 
are refugees requiring protection. 
SEC. 4. 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 ‘‘2012’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2017’’. 
SEC. 5. RADIO BROADCASTING TO NORTH KOREA. 
Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) shall submit 
to the appropriate congressional committees, as defined in section 
5(1) of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 
7803(1)), a report that describes the status and content of current 
United States broadcasting to North Korea and the extent to which 
the BBG has achieved the goal of 12-hour-per-day broadcasting 
Deadline. 
Reports. 
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126 STAT. 1309 
PUBLIC LAW 112–172—AUG. 16, 2012 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 4240: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 158 (2012): 
May 15, considered and passed House. 
Aug. 2, considered and passed Senate. 
to North Korea pursuant to section 103 of such Act (22 U.S.C. 
7813). 
SEC. 6. ACTIONS TO PROMOTE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION. 
Subsections (b)(1) and (c) of section 104 of the North Korean 
Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 7814) is amended by striking 
‘‘2012’’ and inserting ‘‘2017’’ each place it appears. 
SEC. 7. SPECIAL ENVOY ON NORTH KOREAN 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 ‘‘2012’’ and inserting 
‘‘2017’’. 
SEC. 8. REPORT ON UNITED STATES HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE. 
Section 201(a) of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 
(22 U.S.C. 7831(a)) is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph 
(1), by striking ‘‘2012’’ and inserting ‘‘2017’’. 
SEC. 9. 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— 
(1) by striking ‘‘$20,000,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$5,000,000’’; 
and 
(2) by striking ‘‘2005 through 2012’’ and inserting ‘‘2013 
through 2017’’. 
SEC. 10. 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 ‘‘2012’’ and inserting ‘‘2017’’. 
Approved August 16, 2012. 
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