Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Young Kim (CA-40) and Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) introduced the bipartisan Divided Families National Registry Act to support reunions between Korean Americans and their family members in North Korea.
Since the Korean War, thousands of Korean American families have waited for the opportunity to connect with their war-torn relatives in North Korea. The bill would identify those wishing to reunite with relatives in North Korea and strengthen the U.S. State Department’s family reunification efforts.
“As a Korean American, I understand and have great empathy for families who have longed for decades to see their loved ones in North Korea,” said Congresswoman Young Kim. “We must prioritize resolving this painful legacy and reunite these war-torn families before it’s too late.”
“Thousands of Korean American families in Virginia and across the country have been forcibly torn apart from their loved ones by the Korean War for more than seven decades,” said Congressman Suhas Subramanyam. “I am proud to lead this bipartisan legislation alongside Rep. Kim to bring these families closer to long-overdue reunion. I thank all the Korean American families who have shared their stories and who have helped move this legislation forward.”
Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.
Rep. Kim supported House passage of this bill in the 118th Congress.
