We will begin the meeting.
We are the Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development. Today is October 25, 2012, and this is our 53rd meeting .
Our meeting is televised today. Remember, your mother will probably be watching.
Because my mother is watching, I want to say happy birthday to my sister. I won't tell you how old she's turning today because she's of the age that you wear sackcloth and ashes on your birthday, but nevertheless, Jackie, happy birthday.
We have with us today Robert King, the United States ambassador and special envoy for North Korean human rights. He testifies to us pursuant to our ongoing study of the human rights situation in North Korea, which has occupied this committee on and off for almost two years.
Ambassador King will give a presentation. The length of his presentation and how much time we have left will determine how long each set of questions is today.
Once we've dealt with this, I have an item of business dealing with the potential witness from the Congress of the Philippines, which we'll deal with at the end, but I'll try to speak to each of you separately to whisper in your ear about it to get a sense from the committee prior to that so we can deal with it as quickly as possible.
All that being said, Ambassador King, we're glad to have you here. Please feel free to begin.