Staying in Washington,... two American lawmakers have introduced a resolution calling for the dismantlement of North Korea's labor camp system.
Lee Seung-jae reports.
In an attempt to raise global awareness of human rights abuses in North Korea,... two U.S. lawmakers introduced a resolution this week,... calling for the elimination of North Korea's labor camp system.
The document which was introduced by Mike Conaway, a Republican lawmaker from Texas,... and Gerry Connolly... a Democrat lawmaker from Virginia,... details the human rights abuses committed inside the regime's labor camps.
The resolution particularly reports deaths resulting from rape and forced abortion,... citing a 2017 report on an inquiry into the crimes.
In addition, it calls on the North Korean government to "immediately cease" human rights abuses,... and to release the 80-thousand to 120-thousand political prisoners.
It added the North should allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to enter the labor camps,... and assist with prisoner release and rehabilitation.
The report also calls on the U.S. government to continue to pursue sanctions against those responsible for the labor camp system,... stating that a special tribunal should be created to investigate and remedy the regime's crimes against humanity,... and impose sanctions on individuals responsible for them.
While the U.S. and North Korea inch closer to dialogue,... U.S. lawmakers continue to be vocal about North Korean issues,... including calls to maintain international sanctions on the communist state.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.