By expressing the sense of the Congress that the new ambassador should be a fulltime position. the Congress does not preclude the possibility that the President may find it desirable to nominate as ambassador an individual who already has other duties closely related to those to be pursued by the Ambassador for North Korean Human Rights Issues. Indeed. such dual assignments are not uncommon within the State Department. The bill acknowledges that the new Ambassador for North Korean Human Rights Issues should be able to participate in policy planning and implementation with respect to refugee issues. particularly given the fact that returning refugees are among those most likely to be persecuted by North Korean authorities. But it is my expectation that the State Departments Bureau of Population. Refugees. and Migration (PRM) will continue to play the leading role on North Korean refugee issues. engaging with China and other nations to ensure humane treatment in accordance with international norms. PRM has the staffing. expertise. congressional authorization. and experience needed to spearhead U.S. efforts in this area. and they should continue to do so. The new Ambassador for North Korean Human Rights Issues will have to approach the job with quiet determination and considerable patience. Discussing human rights issues with North Korean authorities will not be easy. and the new ambassador will need to have both excellent diplomatic skills and a deep understanding of East Asia and the particular circumstances on the Korean Peninsula. Change will not come easily. and is more likely to flow from dialogue and engagement than from bombast and condemnation. There are many issues on the table. ranging from family reunification visits for the thousands of KoreanAmerlcans with relatives in the north. to ending the persecution of people of faith inside North Korea. Other humanitarian issues may also enter the mix. including food security and public health. It is my hope that the new ambassador will work with our treaty ally.
Keywords matched
refugee Refugees family reunification refugees