S. 4900 — North Korean Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2026

This section makes findings on human rights conditions in North Korea, including the detention of 80,000 to 120,000 people in political prison camps subject to starvation, forced labor, torture, and executions; the abduction of South Koreans and Japanese; religious persecution of Christians; and the forcible repatriation of North Korean refugees by China in violation of non-refoulement obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention.

This section expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should continue supporting information access in North Korea to counter propaganda, enact the Otto Warmbier North Korean Censorship and Surveillance Act of 2021, urge China to halt forcible repatriation of North Koreans and grant UNHCR access and non-refoulement protections, ensure transparent delivery of humanitarian aid, maintain passport restrictions on travel to North Korea, press for UN Special Rapporteur access, appoint the Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights Issues without delay, urge repeal of North Korea’s Reactionary Thought and Culture Denunciation Law, expand the Rewards for Justice program to cover evidence of crimes against humanity, and seek foreign government cooperation to protect and resettle North Korean refugees.

This section reauthorizes programs under the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004. It extends annual appropriations of $2,000,000 for human rights, democracy, and market economy programs in North Korea through FY2030 (from FY2022). It extends actions to promote freedom of information in North Korea through October 18, 2030 (from 2022). It extends the reporting requirement for the Special Envoy on North Korean human rights issues until October 18, 2030 (from 2022). It extends the report on U.S. humanitarian assistance until October 18, 2030 (from 2022). It updates a cross-reference and extends assistance provided outside North Korea for FY2025 through FY2030 (from FY2018 through FY2022). It extends annual reports on North Korean human rights until October 18, 2030 (from 2022).

This section updates references to the United States Agency for Global Media in place of the Broadcasting Board of Governors in provisions on broadcasting and information promotion to North Korea. It extends the required reporting period on actions to promote freedom of information to 10 years (from 5 years) and requires the report to include an update to the underlying plan.

This section requires the Secretary of State to submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees describing efforts to appoint the Special Envoy for North Korean human rights issues if the position is vacant. The first report is due no later than 180 days after enactment of the North Korean Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2026, with annual reports required for the following three years.

This section directs the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security to collaborate with faith-based and Korean-American organizations to resettle North Korean refugees admitted under the United States Refugee Admissions Program in areas with existing Korean-American communities. It also requires the Secretary of State to disseminate guidelines on resettlement options in the United States or South Korea via the Department website, U.S.-funded radio broadcasts into North Korea, and brochures or electronic devices.

This section authorizes the President to designate for sanctions any person who knowingly forces the repatriation of North Korean refugees to North Korea. It exempts the Republic of Korea and Japan from certain mandatory sanctions designations under the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016.

This section requires the Secretary of State to submit a report to Congress within 180 days of enactment, and annually for the following two years, on North Korean exploitation of humanitarian assistance, effective methods for delivering such aid, denied or delayed requests for exemptions from United Nations sanctions during the covered period, explanations for those denials and delays, and actions by foreign governments that impeded approved humanitarian assistance.