22 USC 7818 - National registry of Korean American divided families

U.S Code last checked for updates: Mar 29, 2026

§ 7818.

National registry of Korean American divided families

(a)

National registry

(1)

In general

The Secretary of State, acting through the Special Envoy on North Korean Human Rights Issues, the Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, or such other individual as the Secretary may designate, shall—

(A)

engage, to the extent practicable, Korean American families who wish to be reunited with family members residing in North Korea from which such Korean American families were divided after the signing of the Agreement Concerning a Military Armistice in Korea, signed at Panmunjom July 27, 1953 (commonly referred to as the “Korean War Armistice Agreement” ), in anticipation of future reunions for such families and family members, including in-person and video reunions; and

(B)

establish a private, internal national registry of the names and other relevant information of such Korean American families—

(i)

to facilitate such future reunions; and

(ii)

to provide for a repository of information about such Korean American families and family members in North Korea, including information about individuals who may be deceased.

(2)

Disclosure of information

The Secretary of State may enter into agreements with Korean individuals and families, academic institutions, or other members of the public, as appropriate, to share, in whole or in part, information collected and housed in the database if—

(A)

the United States person whose personally identifiable information would be disclosed as a result of an agreement has provided consent to such disclosure; and

(B)

the agreement outlines reasonable steps and commitments to ensure that any information disclosed as a result of such agreement is—

(i)

kept private and confidential; and

(ii)

will not be disclosed improperly to other parties outside the agreement.

(b)

Actions to facilitate dialogue between the United States and North Korea

(1)

In general

(2)

Consultations

(3)

Reporting requirement

(A)

In general

(B)

Elements

The reporting required under subparagraph (A) should include—

(i)

the status of the national registry established pursuant to subsection (a)(1)(B);

(ii)

the number of individuals included on the registry who—

(I)

have met their family members in North Korea during previous reunions; and

(II)

have yet to meet their family members in North Korea;

(iii)

a summary of responses by North Korea to requests by the United States Government to hold reunions of divided families; and

(iv)

a description of actions taken by North Korea that prevent the emigration of family members of Korean American families.

(c)

Appropriate congressional committees defined

(Pub. L. 119–60, div. H, title LXXXIII, § 8361, Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1884.)

cite as: 22 USC 7818