The Voice of America reports that in China there may be 100-thousand orphans born to North Korean mothers and Chinese fathers who have been abandoned.

VOA quoted a recent report from the U.S. Congressional Executive Commission on China detailing that the Chinese-North Korean children are abandoned by their Chinese fathers when their North Korean mothers are repatriated from China to the North.

The report said the Chinese government denies household registration, which is necessary to receive public education, and other social services to the children of North Korean women who married Chinese citizens. It said those children are left in a stateless condition.

The report also revealed that the Chinese government appears to be stepping up its efforts to repatriate North Korean escapees. It cited an overseas news agency’s report that Chinese public security authorities were cooperating with North Korean police agents to repatriate North Korean refugees throughout China in September last year.