for the people of that country who are especially vulnerable to a pandemic because of deficiencies in public health infrastructure. (9) While the Government of North Korea has not reported any cases of COVID–19 in the country, the extent and results of testing are unknown, and government officials have not historically been open or transparent about humanitarian emergencies facing the people of North Korea. (10) Responses to the COVID–19 crisis, including border closings and quarantines that may extend through the planting season, have impeded international efforts that would otherwise be providing life-saving support to the people of North Korea. (11) In its final report published on March 5, 2019, the United Nations Panel of Experts on North Korea found that United Nations agencies and humanitarian organizations continue to experience unintended consequences on their humanitarian programmes that make it impossible to operate normally in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. . (12) Barriers to humanitarian access can result from decisions made or delayed by the Government of North Korea, by the governments of other countries, including the governments of the United States and the People’s Republic of China, and by the Committee of the United Nations Security Council established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718 (2006) (in this Act referred to as the 1718 Sanctions Committee ). (13) Nongovernmental organizations that provide humanitarian assistance in North Korea must typically seek simultaneous authorizations from the Department of the Treasury, the Department of State, the Department of Commerce, the 1718 Sanctions Committee, customs officials in the People’s Republic of China, and the Government of North Korea, adding further delays to humanitarian access. (14) The 1718 Sanctions Committee issued the document entitled Implementation Assistance Notice No. 7 on August 6, 2018, to clarify the process for granting requests for humanitarian exemptions by the United Nations and to reaffirm