Participates in North Korea Freedom Rally

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, participated in the annual North Korea Freedom Rally to highlight the abysmal human rights conditions in North Korea.

Chairman Royce is the author of H.R. 1771, the North Korean Sanctions Enforcement Act.  The legislation, which passed the Foreign Affairs Committee with bipartisan support, strengthens existing sanctions against North Korea by prohibiting North Korea’s access to critical resources — such as hard currency and other goods — that keep the Kim regime in power.  The legislation also holds North Korean officials accountable for gross human rights abuses.

Chairman Royce said: “The government of North Korea is responsible for carrying out some of the world’s most heinous and cruel abuses against human rights.  The UN Commission of Inquiry Report on Human Rights Abuses in North Korea details many of the horrific acts of violence that the regime uses in order to stifle dissent and cling to power.  As Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I am honored to join the Korean Church Coalition and the Korean American community to call for an end to the brutal human rights abuse in North Korea.  It is time that we hold North Korea accountable for its violations of human rights and its assault on human dignity.”   

NOTE: Last year, the Chairman met with the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.  Royce, co-chairman of the International Parliamentarians Coalition for North Korean Refugees and Human Rights, has long worked to highlight the deplorable human rights conditions in North Korea.  Royce has led the effort to incorporate human rights into U.S. policy toward North Korea.  He authored legislation to increase radio broadcasting into North Korea to counter the Kim regime’s propaganda.
 

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