▲ The Capitol Hill in Washington. (Yonhap)

Senate-NK human rights

Bill to reauthorize N. Korean human rights act reintroduced to Senate

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, June 25 (Yonhap) -- A U.S. lawmaker has reintroduced a Senate bill to reauthorize the 2004 North Korean Human Rights Act aimed at promoting rights and freedom in the reclusive state, Congress' website showed Thursday, as the act expired in 2022.

On Wednesday, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) submitted the bill to the upper chamber, with Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) co-sponsoring it. First adopted in 2004, the North Korean Human Rights Act had been updated and reauthorized periodically. It was extended in 2008, 2012 and 2018 with the last extension having expired in September 2022.

The text of the Senate bill was not immediately available.

Last November, Rep. Young Kim (R-CA) introduced a similar bill to the House of Representatives with Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA) co-sponsoring it.

In 2024, the House passed the reauthorization bill, but the Senate failed to act on it, dashing hopes for the passage of the bill during the preceding Congress.

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