An act to reauthorize the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004, and for other purposes
PL 115-198 (H.R.2061), enacted 07/20/2018

132 STAT. 1519 
PUBLIC LAW 115–198—JULY 20, 2018 
Public Law 115–198 
115th 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 ‘‘North Korean Human Rights 
Reauthorization Act of 2017’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) In 2014, the United Nations Commission of Inquiry 
(COI) on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic 
of Korea (DPRK) found that the grave human rights violations 
still being perpetrated against the people of North Korea, due 
to policies established at the highest level of the state, amount 
to crimes against humanity. Crimes include forced starvation, 
sexual violence against women and children, restrictions on 
freedom of movement, arbitrary detention, torture, executions, 
and enforced disappearances, among other hardships. 
(2) The COI also noted that the Government of the People’s 
Republic of China is aiding and abetting in crimes against 
humanity by forcibly repatriating North Korean refugees back 
to the DPRK. Upon repatriation, North Koreans are sent to 
prison camps, tortured, or even executed. The Government 
of the People’s Republic of China’s forcible repatriation of North 
Korean refugees violates its obligation to uphold the principle 
of non-refoulement, 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)). 
(3) Estimates from the COI suggest that between 80,000 
and 120,000 people are believed to be imprisoned in political 
prison camps in North Korea. Another 70,000 are believed 
to be held at other detention facilities. Prisoners in both situa-
tions are subject to harsh conditions, limited food, sexual abuse, 
and in most cases hard labor. 
(4) One of the findings of the COI report was the persecu-
tion of religious minorities, especially Christians. There is effec-
tively no freedom of religion in North Korea, only worship 
of the Kim family. Christians are subjected to particularly 
acute persecution. It has been reported that Christians in North 
Korea have been tortured, forcibly detained, and even executed 
for possessing a Bible or professing Christianity. 
22 USC 7801 
note. 
North Korean 
Human Rights 
Reauthorization 
Act of 2017. 
22 USC 7801 
note. 
July 20, 2018 
[H.R. 2061] 
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132 STAT. 1520 
PUBLIC LAW 115–198—JULY 20, 2018 
(5) North Korea profits from its human rights abuses. 
A 2014 report from the Asian Institute for Policy Studies sug-
gests that there are nearly 50,000 North Korean workers forced 
to labor overseas, sometimes without compensation, and for 
as much as 20 hours at a time. Workers that received compensa-
tion were not to be paid more than $150 per month, which 
is between 10 to 20 percent of the value of the labor they 
performed. Based on this report, the regime may profit as 
much as $360,000,000 annually from just 50,000 laborers. 
(6) On July 6, 2016, the United States imposed sanctions 
on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and other senior North 
Korean officials for human rights violations as required by 
the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 
2016 (Public Law 114–122). This was the first time that the 
United States had designated North Korean officials for human 
rights abuses. 
(7) The North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement 
Act of 2016 (Public Law 114–122) requires the President to 
impose mandatory penalties under United States law on any 
person that ‘‘knowingly engages in, is responsible for, or facili-
tates serious human rights abuses by the Government of North 
Korea’’. 
(8) Although the United States Refugee Admissions Pro-
gram remains the largest in the world by far, the United 
States has only resettled 212 refugees from North Korea since 
the date of the enactment of the North Korea Human Rights 
Act of 2004 (Public Law 108–333). 
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the United States Government should continue to make 
it a priority to improve information access in North Korea 
by exploring the use of new and emerging technologies and 
expanding nongovernmental radio broadcasting to North Korea, 
including news and information; 
(2) 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 situa-
tion of human rights in North Korea as well as the United 
Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; 
(3) because North Koreans fleeing into China face a well- 
founded fear of persecution upon their forcible repatriation, 
the United States should urge China to— 
(A) immediately halt the forcible repatriation of North 
Koreans; 
(B) allow the United Nations High Commissioner for 
Refugees unimpeded access to North Koreans inside China 
to determine whether such North Koreans require protec-
tion as refugees; 
(C) fulfill its obligations under the 1951 United Nations 
Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, the 1967 
Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, and the Agree-
ment 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 (signed December 1, 1995); 
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132 STAT. 1521 
PUBLIC LAW 115–198—JULY 20, 2018 
(D) address the concerns of the United Nations Com-
mittee against Torture by incorporating the principle of 
non-refoulement into Chinese domestic legislation; and 
(E) recognize the legal status of North Korean women 
who marry or have children with Chinese citizens, and 
ensure that all such children are granted resident status 
and access to education and other public services in accord-
ance with Chinese law and international standards; 
(4) the President should continue to designate all individ-
uals found to have committed violations described in section 
104(a) of the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement 
Act of 2016 (22 U.S.C. 2914(a)), regarding complicity in censor-
ship and human right abuses; 
(5) the United States currently blocks United States pass-
ports 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 States should continue to seek cooperation 
from all foreign governments to allow the United Nations High 
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) access to process North 
Korean refugees overseas for resettlement and to allow United 
States officials access to process refugees for resettlement in 
the United States (if that is the destination country of the 
refugees’ choosing); and 
(7) 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 and defectors. 
SEC. 4. RADIO BROADCASTING TO NORTH KOREA. 
Section 103(a) of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 
(22 U.S.C. 7813(a)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘that the United States should facilitate’’ 
and inserting the following: ‘‘that the United States should— 
‘‘(1) facilitate’’; 
(2) in paragraph (1), as redesignated by paragraph (1) 
of this section— 
(A) by striking ‘‘radio broadcasting’’ and inserting 
‘‘broadcasting, including news rebroadcasting,’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘increase broadcasts’’ and inserting 
‘‘increase such broadcasts, including news rebroadcasts,’’; 
and 
(C) by striking ‘‘Voice of America.’’ and inserting the 
following: ‘‘Voice of America; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) expand funding for nongovernmental organization 
broadcasting efforts, prioritizing organizations that engage 
North Korean defectors in programming and broadcast serv-
ices.’’. 
SEC. 5. ACTIONS TO PROMOTE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION. 
Section 104(a) of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 
(22 U.S.C. 7814(a)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘The President’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The President’’; 
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132 STAT. 1522 
PUBLIC LAW 115–198—JULY 20, 2018 
(2) by inserting ‘‘, USB drives, micro SD cards, audio 
players, video players, cell phones, wi-fi, wireless internet, web 
pages, internet, wireless telecommunications, and other elec-
tronic media that shares information’’ before the period at 
the end; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) DISTRIBUTION.—In accordance with the sense of Con-
gress described in section 103, the President, acting through 
the Secretary of State, is authorized to distribute or provide 
grants to distribute information receiving devices, electronically 
readable devices, and other informational sources into North 
Korea, including devices and informational sources specified 
in paragraph (1). To carry out this paragraph, the President 
is authorized to issue regulations to facilitate the free-flow 
of information into North Korea. 
‘‘(3) RESEARCH
AND
DEVELOPMENT
GRANT
PROGRAM.—In 
accordance with the authorization described in paragraphs (1) 
and (2) to increase the availability and distribution of sources 
of information inside North Korea, the President, acting 
through the Secretary of State, is authorized to establish a 
grant program to make grants to eligible entities to develop 
or distribute (or both) new products or methods to allow North 
Koreans easier access to outside information. Such program 
may involve public-private partnerships. 
‘‘(4) CULTURE.—In accordance with the sense of Congress 
described in section 103, the Broadcasting Board of Governors 
may broadcast American, Korean, Chinese, and other popular 
music, television, movies, and popular cultural references as 
part of its programming. 
‘‘(5) RIGHTS AND LAWS.—In accordance with the sense of 
Congress described in section 103, the Broadcasting Board of 
Governors should broadcast to North Korea in the Korean 
language information on rights, laws, and freedoms afforded 
through the North Korean Constitution, the Universal Declara-
tion of Human Rights, the United Nations Commission of 
Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic 
of Korea, and any other applicable treaties or international 
agreements to which North Korea is bound. 
‘‘(6) RELIGIOUS MINORITIES.—Efforts to improve information 
access under this subsection should include religious commu-
nities and should be coordinated with the Office of International 
Religious Freedom to ensure maximum impact in improving 
the rights of religious persons in North Korea. 
‘‘(7) BROADCASTING REPORT.—Not later than— 
‘‘(A) 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
paragraph, the Secretary of State, in consultation with 
the Broadcasting Board of Governors, shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a report that sets 
forth a detailed plan for improving broadcasting content 
for the purpose of targeting new audiences and increasing 
listenership; and 
‘‘(B) 1 year after the date of the enactment of this 
paragraph, and annually thereafter for each of the next 
5 years, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the 
Broadcasting Board of Governors, shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a report including— 
Time period. 
Plan. 
Consultation. 
President. 
Regulations. 
President. 
Grants. 
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132 STAT. 1523 
PUBLIC LAW 115–198—JULY 20, 2018 
‘‘(i) a description of the effectiveness of actions 
taken pursuant to this section, including data reflecting 
audience and listenership, device distribution and 
usage, and technological development and advance-
ment usage; 
‘‘(ii) the amount of funds expended by the United 
States Government pursuant to section 403; and 
‘‘(iii) other appropriate information necessary to 
fully inform Congress of efforts related to this section.’’. 
SEC. 6. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON HUMANITARIAN COORDINATION 
RELATED TO THE KOREAN PENINSULA. 
Title III of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 
U.S.C. 7841 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 306. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON HUMANITARIAN COORDINATION 
RELATED TO THE KOREAN PENINSULA. 
‘‘It is the sense of Congress that— 
‘‘(1) any instability on the Korean Peninsula could have 
significant humanitarian and strategic impact on the region 
and for United States national interests; and 
‘‘(2) as such, the United States Government should work 
with countries sharing a land or maritime border with North 
Korea to develop long-term whole-of-government plans to 
coordinate efforts related to humanitarian assistance and 
human rights promotion and to effectively assimilate North 
Korean defectors.’’. 
SEC. 7. REAUTHORIZATION PROVISIONS. 
(a) SUPPORT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY PROGRAMS.— 
Section 102 of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 
U.S.C. 7812(b)(1)) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘The President is also authorized to provide grants to entities 
to undertake research on North Korea’s denial of human rights, 
including on the political and military chains of command 
responsible for authorizing and implementing systemic human 
rights abuses, including at prison camps and detention facilities 
where political prisoners are held.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘2017’’ and inserting 
‘‘2022’’. 
(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)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘$2,000,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$3,000,000’’; 
and 
(B) by striking ‘‘2017’’ and inserting ‘‘2022’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘2017’’ and inserting 
‘‘2022’’. 
(c) REPORT
BY 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 ‘‘2017’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2022’’. 
(d) REPORT ON UNITED STATES HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE.— 
Section 201 of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 
U.S.C. 7831 is amended— 
President. 
Grants. 
22 USC 7846. 
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132 STAT. 1524 
PUBLIC LAW 115–198—JULY 20, 2018 
(1) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph 
(1), by striking ‘‘2017’’ and inserting ‘‘2022’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and 
(3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(b) NEEDS ASSESSMENT.—The report shall include a needs 
assessment to inform the distribution of humanitarian assistance 
inside North Korea.’’. 
(e) 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 ‘‘2013 through 2017’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2018 through 2022’’. 
(f) 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 ‘‘2017’’ and inserting 
‘‘2022’’. 
SEC. 8. REPORT BY BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Broadcasting Board of Governors 
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report 
that— 
(1) describes the status of current United States broad-
casting to North Korea and the extent to which the Board 
has achieved the goal of 12-hour-per-day broadcasting to North 
Korea, in accordance with section 103(a) of the North Korean 
Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 7813(a)); and 
(2) includes a strategy to overcome obstacles to such 
communication with the North Korean people, including 
through unrestricted, unmonitored, and inexpensive electronic 
means. 
(b) FORM.—The report required under subsection (a) shall be 
submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex. 
(c) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means— 
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; 
(2) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; 
(3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Rep-
resentatives; and 
(4) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Rep-
resentatives. 
Definition. 
Strategy. 
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132 STAT. 1525 
PUBLIC LAW 115–198—JULY 20, 2018 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 2061: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 163 (2017): Sept. 25, considered and passed House. 
Vol. 164 (2018): Apr. 24, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
June 27, House concurred in Senate amendment. 
DAILY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS (2018): 
July 20, Presidential statement. 
SEC. 9. REPEAL OF DUPLICATIVE AUTHORIZATIONS. 
Section 403 of the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhance-
ment Act of 2016 (Public Law 114–122; 22 U.S.C. 9253) is hereby 
repealed. 
Approved July 20, 2018. 
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