The North Korea Human Rights Act of 2004 was the first significant Congressional attempt to address human rights abuses in North Korea. The intent of the legislation was to promote respect for and the protection of human rights in a country where the UN Commission of Inquiry would later note “Crimes against humanity are ongoing in the [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] because the policies, institutions and patterns of impunity that lie at their heart remain in place.” In addition to addressing the human rights situation, the North Korea Human Rights Act hoped to improve the conditions for North Korean refugees, improve monitoring and access to humanitarian aid, promote the free flow of information, and help to promote reunification on the Korean Peninsula under a democratic system.
To better understand the development of U.S. policy towards North Korean human rights issues and the challenges that remain, please join KEI for a discussion with Ambassador Robert King on his new book, “Patterns of Impunity: Human Rights in North Korea and the Role of the U.S. Special Envoy.” The conversation will cover attempts to address the human rights situation in North Korea during his time as Special Envoy, and how this role has been viewed with Ambassador King’s former Congressional colleague Keith Luse.
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