The U.S. Congress has proposed a resolution aimed at stopping China from forcibly repatriating North Korean defectors who face harsh punishment in their home country, Radio Free Asia reported.

Rep. Christopher Smith, chairman of the subcommittee on Africa, global health, and human rights under the U.S. House committee on foreign affairs, submitted the resolution jointly with Rep. Edward Royce, chairman of the subcommittee on terrorism, non-proliferation and trade, it said.

The resolution urges China to abide by international norms and stop sending back North Korean defectors, to stop automatically considering them “illegal economic migrants” and to allow the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees to access North Korean defectors.

Despite international calls, China has repeatedly said it will deal with the issue according to domestic laws, international laws and humanitarian principles.

A week ago, an unprecedented tussle occurred between South Korean lawmakers and North Korea’s ambassador in Geneva over the issue.

At the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva, the South’s lawmakers tried to approach So Se-pyong, the North’s ambassador, after he rejected a report by Marzuki Darusman, the U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea. The clash occurred when So was about to leave, with security officials trying to stop the lawmakers.

By Kim Yoon-mi (yoonmi@heraldcorp.com)