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Obama signs North Korea child welfare bill into law
President Obama on Monday signed into law a bill requiring the State Department to regularly brief Congress on U.S. efforts to advocate for the best interests of North Korean children.
The legislation from Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.), the new chairman of the House Foreign Affairs panel, aims to help so-called “stateless children” living outside the totalitarian country. It calls on the United States to advocate for family reunification efforts and the adoption of North Korean children living in countries such as South Korea and especially China.
"It is little wonder that tens of thousands - mostly women - flee to China, seeking just a modicum of freedom,” Royce said in a statement. “For many, it is a last resort; it is a final chance to avoid starvation and unspeakable oppression. Sadly, many don't survive the ordeal, leaving behind children."
Obama also signed into law Rep. Lamar Smith's (R-Texas) "Foreign and Economic Espionage Penalty Enhancement Act of 2012," which increases the maximum fines for stealing trade secrets with the intent to benefit foreign entities.
