11/26/2024 United States (International Christian Concern) — The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill on Nov. 20 to update and reauthorize the 2004 North Korean Human Rights Act.

The bill, which aims to promote the human rights of North Koreans, including those of Christians, expired in 2022. U.S. Reps. Young Kim (R-CA) and Ami Bera (D-CA) promoted the bill within the House Foreign Affairs Indo-Pacific Subcommittee.

Kim stated that updating the 2004 Act would be a concrete step toward increasing support for human rights for the North Korean people. Bera added that this bill would strengthen the United States’ commitment to promoting human rights in North Korea.

“North Korea’s oppressive regime continues to commit heinous human rights abuses against its own people, including arbitrary detention, forced disappearance, torture, and severe restrictions on freedom of religion and belief,” Bera said.

The bill, which will be valid through Aug. 30, 2028, calls for the reunification of Korean American family members with their immediate relatives in North Korea, promoting freedom of information within North Korea, and appointing a special envoy for North Korean human rights should the post remain vacant.

An International Christian Concern staffer praised the bill’s passage.

“These advocacy-related successes, coupled with ongoing frontline support, will continue to help strengthen the church in North Korea,” the staffer said. “Christians there are regularly subject to the human rights and freedom of religion abuses that this very law covers. It is great to see this renewed commitment from the U.S. government.”

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