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COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20515

STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, CHAIRMAN
Before the SUBCOMMITTEE ON ASIA, THE PACIFIC, AND THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT
on North Korean Human Rights
February 15, 2007

Since 1946 when the Soviet Union placed Kim Jong-il's father in power, North Korea has maintained a totalitarian regime based on Stalin's system. North Koreans have no freedom of expression or movement. No dissent of Kim Jomg-il is allowed. Most North Koreans have no access to media sources other than the official media. Severe physical abuse is meted out to citizens who violate laws and restrictions.

An important component of Kim Jong-il's system is a North Korean elite class. The largest estimate of the elite is nearly 6 million, or 30 percent of the population. The elite have access to food, business opportunities, and luxury goods while millions in North Korea are starving.

While the Bush Administration has given priority to the nuclear issue, not so much attention has been paid to human rights. In fact, the Administration has proposed no negotiations with North Korea over human rights but has asserted that human rights is one of several issues to be settled with North Korea after the nuclear issue is resolved.

For now, the Six Party Agreement of February 13th calls for the United States and North Korea to "start bilateral talks aimed at resolving bilateral issues and moving toward full diplomatic relations." I will be interested in hearing from our witness if this means beginning discussions about human rights and, if so, what will the role of the Special Envoy be if Six Party talks include this topic?

I would also like to know how Bush Administration plans to address the unresolved issue of Japanese citizens kidnapped by North Korea. How concerned is Japan that the Administration might agree to move North Korea from the terrorism list even though the kidnapping issue has not been settled?

Also, given that China and South Korea believe that diplomatic relations with North Korea should be established once the nuclear issue is resolved, even though the US believes otherwise, would a US Embassy and US Ambassador in North Korea influence the human rights situation in North Korea?

What about North Korea's prison camps? The US Committee for Human Rights in North Korea published a report which describes a system of concentration camps that houses 150,000 to 200,000 inmates, including many political prisoners. Reports cite harsh conditions, executions and tortures.

Finally, there is the issue of North Korean refugees. The State Department estimates that 30,000-50,000 North Korean refugees live in China. It is my understanding that China considers the North Koreans to be illegal economic immigrants and does not allow the North Koreans to apply for asylum. There is also some suggestion that China punishes those who attempt to defect to South Korea.

The State Department reports that North Korean women are trafficked for sexual exploitation and forced marriages with Chinese men while North Korean men are trafficked for forced labor. Congress has attempted to take action by passage of the North Korean Human Rights Act in 2004.

But the question is, where are we now, and is this legislation being effectively implemented given that the legislation authorizes up to $20 million annually for assistance but, to my knowledge, only a total of 30 North Korean refugees have been brought to the US. I am sure there are many factors influencing why this number is so low and I look forward to hearing from our witness regarding this point.

Again, I welcome Special Envoy Lefkowitz and I thank him for being with us today. I now recognize the Ranking Member for any opening statement he may have.