US Congress Schedules Hearing on North Korean Human Rights for the 28th

The Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, a bipartisan human rights body of the United States Congress, will hold a hearing on North Korean human rights on the 28th. This hearing is expected to focus on the impact of South Korea's regulations on inter-Korean activities and changes in US policy toward the Korean Peninsula on North Korean human rights issues.

The commission stated that the human rights situation in North Korea is among the world's most severe and closed. The North Korean government maintains strict political control, including severe restrictions on freedom of expression, movement, and access to outside information.

The commission analyzed that shifts in US policy toward the Korean Peninsula, including the prioritization between denuclearization diplomacy and human rights advocacy, have affected the visibility of North Korean human rights issues. It explained that North Korean human rights advocacy efforts are facing new challenges, particularly as legal and regulatory measures within South Korea impact these activities.

The hearing on the 28th is open to congressional members, staff, the general public, and members of the press, and will be broadcast live on the commission's website.