The House unanimously approved legislation on Monday that would extend U.S. support for programs that aim to advance human rights and democracy in North Korea, a measure that drew the backing of U.S. Reps. Mimi Walters (R-CA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Steve Chabot (R-OH).
The North Korean Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2017, H.R. 2061, would also extend U.S. support for programs that provide aid to North Korean refugees and work to counter propaganda by making uncensored information more available in the country.
The lawmakers agreed that while the Kim Jong Un regime continues to develop its nuclear weapons programs, millions of North Korean citizens lack food, water and other basic necessities.
“The United States cannot remain silent in the face of this humanitarian crisis and must take action to support North Koreans who are effectively prisoners of the regime,” Walters said. “Reauthorization of the North Korean Human Rights Act reaffirms our commitment to exposing Pyongyang’s human rights abuses and promoting democratic values throughout North Korea. By assisting defectors and delivering humanitarian aid to those in need, the United States can help undermine Kim Jong Un’s efforts to oppress the North Korean people.”
Cramer said the legislation would help expose the North Korean regime’s atrocities to the North Korean people.
“As the United States and global community continue dealing with Kim Jong Un, we must always make the freedom of the North Korean people a top priority,” Cramer said.
Chabot noted that as Pyongyang threatens the world with its nuclear arsenal, North Korean people are being denied their basic human rights.
“Public executions, trafficking, forced labor and starvation plague many North Koreans who know no life outside of their borders,” Chabot said. “As technology continues to advance, so do our methods of spreading truth. H.R. 2061 modernizes U.S. technology efforts to inform North Koreans and advocate for freedom and democracy.”