Bush Signs North Korean Human Rights Act into Law

With President George W. Bush’s endorsement, the North Korean Human Rights Act formally came into effect on October 19.

Through a statement, the White House announced that “the president signed the North Korean Human Rights Act into law to promote human rights and freedom in North Korea.”

With the act in effect, the U.S. government can spend an annual budget of $24 million for four years during fiscal 2005-2008 to support North Korea defectors and defector aid groups, establish a temporary refugee camp for the defectors, and support radio broadcasting in North Korea in order to provide the North with outside news.

The U.S. government can also appoint a special envoy for North Korean human rights who will oversee the assessment and policy establishment regarding human rights there.

To aid defectors seeking to settle in the nation, the act puts no limits on North Korean defectors applying for refugee status or seeking exile in the United States. Prior to the act, North Korean defectors’ application for refuge in the U.S. was constrained under the South Korean constitution, which regards North Koreans as South Korean nationals.

The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate endorsed the act unanimously in July and September respectively. The House of Representatives gave its official endorsement of the act, slightly revised by the Senate, earlier this month.

Seung-Ryun Kim srkim@donga.com