Amendments
2018—Subsec. (d). [Pub. L. 115–198] substituted “2022” for “2017”.
2012—Subsec. (d). [Pub. L. 112–172] substituted “2017” for “2012”.
2008—[Pub. L. 110–346, § 8(1)], substituted “North Korean human rights issues” for “human rights in North Korea” in section catchline.
Subsec. (a). [Pub. L. 110–346, § 8(2)], in first sentence, substituted “North Korean human rights issues” for “human rights in North Korea” and inserted “, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate” before period at end and, in second sentence, inserted “who shall have the rank of ambassador and shall hold the office at the pleasure of the President” before period at end.
Subsec. (b). [Pub. L. 110–346, § 8(3)], inserted “, including, in coordination with the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, the protection of those people who have fled as refugees” after “North Korea”.
Subsec. (c). [Pub. L. 110–346, § 8(4)], added par. (1), redesignated former pars. (1) to (6) as (2) to (7), respectively, and substituted “sections 7812 and 7814” for “section 7812” in par. (5).
Subsec. (d). [Pub. L. 110–346, § 8(5)], substituted “thereafter through 2012” for “for the subsequent 5 year-period”.
Consultations on Reuniting Korean Americans With Family Members in North Korea
[Pub. L. 117–263, div. E, title LV, § 5599B], Dec. 23, 2022, [136 Stat. 3400], provided that:“(a)
Consultations.—
“(1)
Consultations with south korea.—
The Secretary of State, or a designee of the Secretary, should consult with officials of South Korea, as appropriate, on potential opportunities to reunite Korean American families with family members in North Korea from which such Korean American families were divided after the signing of the Korean War Armistice Agreement, including potential opportunities for video reunions for Korean Americans with such family members.
“(2)
Consultations with korean americans.—
The Special Envoy on North Korean Human Rights Issues of the Department of State should regularly consult with representatives of Korean Americans who have family members in North Korea with respect to efforts to reunite families divided after the signing of the Korean War Armistice Agreement, including potential opportunities for video reunions for Korean Americans with such family members.
“(b)
Report.—
Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 2022], and annually thereafter for three years, the Secretary of State, acting through the Special Envoy on North Korean Human Rights Issues or other appropriate designee, shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report on the consultations conducted pursuant to this section during the preceding year.”