Collapse to view only § 7818. National registry of Korean American divided families
- § 7811. Sense of Congress regarding negotiations with North Korea
- § 7812. Support for human rights and democracy programs
- § 7813. Radio broadcasting to North Korea
- § 7814. Actions to promote freedom of information
- § 7815. United Nations Commission on Human Rights
- § 7816. Establishment of regional framework
- § 7817. Special Envoy on North Korean human rights issues
- § 7818. National registry of Korean American divided families
§ 7811. Sense of Congress regarding negotiations with North Korea
It is the sense of Congress that the human rights of North Koreans should remain a key element in future negotiations between the United States, North Korea, and other concerned parties in Northeast Asia.
(Pub. L. 108–333, title I, § 101, Oct. 18, 2004, 118 Stat. 1290.)
§ 7812. Support for human rights and democracy programs
(a) Support
(b) Authorization of appropriations
(1) In general
(2) Availability
(Pub. L. 108–333, title I, § 102, Oct. 18, 2004, 118 Stat. 1290; Pub. L. 110–346, § 5, Oct. 7, 2008, 122 Stat. 3941; Pub. L. 112–172, § 4, Aug. 16, 2012, 126 Stat. 1308; Pub. L. 115–198, § 7(a), July 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 1523.)
§ 7813. Radio broadcasting to North Korea
(a) Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that the United States should—
(1) facilitate the unhindered dissemination of information in North Korea by increasing its support for broadcasting, including news rebroadcasting, to North Korea, and that the Broadcasting Board of Governors should increase such broadcasts, including news rebroadcasts, to North Korea from current levels, with a goal of providing 12-hour-per-day broadcasting to North Korea, including broadcasts by Radio Free Asia and Voice of America; and
(2) expand funding for nongovernmental organization broadcasting efforts, prioritizing organizations that engage North Korean defectors in programming and broadcast services.
(b) Report
Not later than 120 days after October 18, 2004, the Broadcasting Board of Governors shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that—
(1) describes the status of current United States broadcasting to North Korea; and
(2) outlines a plan for increasing such broadcasts to 12 hours per day, including a detailed description of the technical and fiscal requirements necessary to implement the plan.
(Pub. L. 108–333, title I, § 103, Oct. 18, 2004, 118 Stat. 1291; Pub. L. 115–198, § 4, July 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 1521.)
§ 7814. Actions to promote freedom of information
(a) Actions
(1) In general
(2) Distribution
(3) Research and development grant program
(4) Culture
(5) Rights and laws
(6) Religious minorities
(7) Broadcasting reportNot later than—
(A) 180 days after July 20, 2018, 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 span for the purpose of targeting new audiences and increasing listenership; and
(B)September 30, 2022, and annually thereafter for each of the next 5 years, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Agency for Global Media, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report including—
(i) a description of the effectiveness of actions taken pursuant to this section and sections 5583 and 5584 of the Otto Warmbier Countering North Korean Censorship and Surveillance Act of 2022, including data reflecting audience and listenership, device distribution and usage, and technological development and advancement usage;
(ii) the amount of funds expended by the United States Government pursuant to section 403; 1
1 See References in Text note below.
and(iii) other appropriate information necessary to fully inform Congress of efforts related to this section.
(b) Authorization of appropriations
(1) In general
(2) Availability
(c) Report
(d) Information technology study
(Pub. L. 108–333, title I, § 104, Oct. 18, 2004, 118 Stat. 1291; Pub. L. 110–346, § 7, Oct. 7, 2008, 122 Stat. 3941; Pub. L. 112–172, § 6, Aug. 16, 2012, 126 Stat. 1309; Pub. L. 114–122, title III, § 301, Feb. 18, 2016, 130 Stat. 112; Pub. L. 115–198, §§ 5, 7(b), July 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 1521, 1523; Pub. L. 117–263, div. E, title LV, § 5584(b), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3373.)
§ 7815. United Nations Commission on Human Rights
It is the sense of Congress that the United Nations has a significant role to play in promoting and improving human rights in North Korea, and that—
(1) the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) has taken positive steps by adopting Resolution 2003/10 and Resolution 2004/13 on the situation of human rights in North Korea, and particularly by requesting the appointment of a Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in North Korea; and
(2) the severe human rights violations within North Korea warrant country-specific attention and reporting by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances, the Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions, the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, and the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women.
(Pub. L. 108–333, title I, § 105, Oct. 18, 2004, 118 Stat. 1291.)
§ 7816. Establishment of regional framework
(a) Findings
(b) Sense of Congress
(Pub. L. 108–333, title I, § 106, Oct. 18, 2004, 118 Stat. 1292.)
§ 7817. Special Envoy on North Korean human rights issues
(a) Special Envoy
(b) Central objective
(c) Duties and responsibilities
The Special Envoy shall—
(1) participate in the formulation and the implementation of activities carried out pursuant to this chapter;
(2) engage in discussions with North Korean officials regarding human rights;
(3) support international efforts to promote human rights and political freedoms in North Korea, including coordination and dialogue between the United States and the United Nations, the European Union, North Korea, and the other countries in Northeast Asia;
(4) consult with non-governmental organizations who have attempted to address human rights in North Korea;
(5) make recommendations regarding the funding of activities authorized in sections 7812 and 7814 of this title;
(6) review strategies for improving protection of human rights in North Korea, including technical training and exchange programs; and
(7) develop an action plan for supporting implementation of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights Resolution 2004/13.
(d) Report on activities
(Pub. L. 108–333, title I, § 107, Oct. 18, 2004, 118 Stat. 1292; Pub. L. 110–346, § 8, Oct. 7, 2008, 122 Stat. 3941; Pub. L. 112–172, § 7, Aug. 16, 2012, 126 Stat. 1309; Pub. L. 115–198, § 7(c), July 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 1523.)
§ 7818. National registry of Korean American divided families
(a) National registry
(1) In generalThe Secretary of State, acting through the Special Envoy on North Korean Human Rights Issues, the Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, or such other individual as the Secretary may designate, shall—
(A) engage, to the extent practicable, Korean American families who wish to be reunited with family members residing in North Korea from which such Korean American families were divided after the signing of the Agreement Concerning a Military Armistice in Korea, signed at Panmunjom July 27, 1953 (commonly referred to as the “Korean War Armistice Agreement” ), in anticipation of future reunions for such families and family members, including in-person and video reunions; and
(B) establish a private, internal national registry of the names and other relevant information of such Korean American families—
(i) to facilitate such future reunions; and
(ii) to provide for a repository of information about such Korean American families and family members in North Korea, including information about individuals who may be deceased.
(2) Disclosure of informationThe Secretary of State may enter into agreements with Korean individuals and families, academic institutions, or other members of the public, as appropriate, to share, in whole or in part, information collected and housed in the database if—
(A) the United States person whose personally identifiable information would be disclosed as a result of an agreement has provided consent to such disclosure; and
(B) the agreement outlines reasonable steps and commitments to ensure that any information disclosed as a result of such agreement is—
(i) kept private and confidential; and
(ii) will not be disclosed improperly to other parties outside the agreement.
(b) Actions to facilitate dialogue between the United States and North Korea
(1) In general
(2) Consultations
(3) Reporting requirement
(A) In general
(B) ElementsThe reporting required under subparagraph (A) should include—
(i) the status of the national registry established pursuant to subsection (a)(1)(B);
(ii) the number of individuals included on the registry who—(I) have met their family members in North Korea during previous reunions; and(II) have yet to meet their family members in North Korea;
(iii) a summary of responses by North Korea to requests by the United States Government to hold reunions of divided families; and
(iv) a description of actions taken by North Korea that prevent the emigration of family members of Korean American families.
(c) Appropriate congressional committees defined
(Pub. L. 119–60, div. H, title LXXXIII, § 8361, Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1884.)