CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION --- 1
1. Purpose of the Thesis
2. Scope and Method
3. Outline of the Thesis
CHAPTER 2. BACKGROUND OF THE NORTH KOREAN
REFUGEE ISSUE --- 7
1. Background of the Emergence of North Korean Refugees
1.1. General Life Conditions in North Korea
1.2. The Push Factors within North Korea
1.2.1. The Chronic Economic Crisis and Food Shortages
1.2.2. The Threat of Punishment and Displeasure of the Regime
1.2.3. The Acquirement of Foreign-Sourced Information and the Prospect of Improved Living Conditions
1.3. The Pull Factors from Outside
1.3.1. Protection and Support by Korean Communities in China
1.3.2. Relief Activities of NGOs
1.3.3. Job Opportunities
2. Escape Routes from North Korea
2.1. The Primary Route: Crossing the Border of North Korea
2.2. The Secondary Route: Departing from China or Russia to Other Countries
3. Human Rights Violations of North Korean Refugees in China and Southeast Asia
3.1. Forced Repatriation
3.2. Labor Exploitation
3.3. Human Trafficking
3.4. Detention Centers
CHAPTER 3. BACKGROUND OF U.S. EFFORTS REGARDING
HUMAN RIGHTS OF NORTH KOREAN REFUGEES --- 19
1. Efforts by the U.S. Government
1.1. Basic Positions of the U.S. Foreign Policy toward North Korea
1.2. U.S. Policies related to North Korean Human Rights
2. Efforts by U.S. NGOs
3. Process of the Passage of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004
3.1. North Korea Freedom Day
3.2. House Passage of the North Korean Human Rights Act
3.3. Senate Passage of the North Korean Human Rights Act
CHAPTER 4. NORTH KOREAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTS AND
THEIR IMPLEMENTATION --- 32
1. North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004
1.1. Construction of the Act
1.2. Major Contents of the Act
1.2.1. Promoting the Human Rights of North Koreans
1.2.2. Assisting North Koreans in Need
1.2.3. Protecting North Korean Refugees
2. North Korean Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2008
3. Comprehensive Analysis on the North Korean Human Rights Acts
4. Implementation of the North Korean Human Rights Acts
4-1. Assistance to North Korean Refugees in China and Southeast Asia
4.2. Facilitating the Processing of North Korean Refugees in the U.S.
4.2.1. The Number of North Korean Refugee Arrivals in the U.S.
4.2.2. Difficulties North Korean Refugees Face during the Asylum Process into the U.S.
4.3. Resettlement of North Korean Refugees in the U.S.
4.3.1. Reasons for Choosing the U.S. for Resettlement
4.3.2. Evaluating the Experiences of North Korean Refugees in the U.S.
CHAPTER 5. CONCLUSION --- 51
REFERENCES --- 55
APPENDIX. Testimonies of North Korean Refugees --- 60