China Denounces Killings of Four Citizens by North Korean Deserter

China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said Beijing has put a formal protest against North Korea over last week's killings of four Chinese citizens by a North Korean army deserter, who murdered them during a robbery.

MOSCOW, January 5 (Sputnik) —China has lodged a diplomatic protest with North Korea over last week's killings of four Chinese by a North Korean army deserter, China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said Monday.

"We have lodged a representation with the North Korean side and China's public security authorities are dealing with the issue," Hua was quoted as saying by the Yonhap agency.

Hua declined to give any further details, according to the agency.

Earlier on Monday, the agency reported Chinese authorities had arrested an alleged North Korean deserter for committing a murder during a robbery. The murder took place on December 28, in the border city of Helong, Northeast China. At the time, Chinese authorities did not officially announce the crime.

A similar incident occurred in December 2013, when a North Korean deserter was detained by Chinese authorities for killing a Chinese couple in the border city of Yanji, and stealing 20,000 yuan (approximately $3,200).