Obama OKs new sanctions against North Korea for nuclear program

President Obama has signed legislation imposing new sanctions against North Korea for refusing to stop its nuclear weapons program.

Lawmakers overwhelmingly and swiftly approved the bill earlier this month. White House spokesman Josh Earnest had said Wednesday that the president planned to sign the bill.

The expanded sanctions are designed to deny North Korea the money it needs to develop miniaturized nuclear warheads and the long-range missiles needed to deliver them.

See the most-read stories this hour >>

The measure also authorizes $50 million over five years to transmit radio broadcasts into North Korea and support humanitarian assistance programs.

The sanctions from Congress come as the United States and China are in delicate negotiations over a U.N. Security Council resolution on new sanctions. China has raised concerns about measures that could devastate North Korea’s economy.

MORE WORLD COVERAGE

Drug seizures soar in China; most suspects are ‘farmers and unemployed’

Obama says he’ll make historic trip to Cuba and plans to press Castro on human rights

Francis never crossed the border, but El Paso felt the pope’s presence