Speech #1090128305

President Bush is merely following the examples set by President Reagan and Pope John Paul during their struggles with a much larger and more threatening nuclear power. We may now have an opportunityif the press reports are accurateto take an additional but necessary step to demonstrate not just by words but by action what human rights mean. We need to accept North Korean refugees into the United States as provided by the North Korean Human Rights Act. That it appears to have taken more than a year and half for the possibility of officially accepting North Korea refugees has been troubling to Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle. In a bipartisan letter to Secretary Rice. Congressman FRANK WOLF and others called on the administration to do more. And last year. both Congressman WOLF and I wrote to Secretary General Kofi Annan to pressure China into allowing UNHCR. the U.N. agency for refugees. into Yanji Province near the North Korean border and other affected areas to assess the situation with respect to the North Korean refugees. I was disappointed to learn that the first report required under the North Korean Human Rights Act was issued with the statement that no progress had been made on accepting refugees. As the act makes clear. admission would be conditioned upon a thorough vetting process by DHS and other appropriate agencies. But without any action by us. it is difficult for us to demand that the Chinese should also change its policies. and it presents a problem for us in asking other countries to do the right thing if we have not been able to do the same. If the U.S. cannot admit what may be less than 10 refugees in total if the press reports are correct. then the whole premise of the act itself is unsustainable. I am hopeful that this may be changing and I hope it is changing. The hopes and prayers of thousands in the faith community and among Korean American communities are vested in this possibility of the first admission of North Korean refugees into the United States. If and when these people come. it will offer hope to millions and put American on the right side of history. Such an act is consistent with the bold steps that Ronald Reagan took and Pope John Paul urged during the years of the cold war. and in the process made the world a better place. If ever there were huddled masses yearning to be free. its the North Koreans. whether hiding out in the forests of China or working as trafficked victims in brothels or as orphans prowling marketplaces for crumbs. If these refugees are granted refuge in the United States. it would constitute one of the great acts of compassion by this nation. And I hope we take this opportunity to lift our lamps and show a way out of the darkness for the North Korean refugees.