A rogue North Korean soldier has killed four Chinese nationals during a robbery after crossing the border into China in search of food, prompting Beijing to lodge a strong protest on Monday with its close ally.
The young North Korean soldier crossed the border in late December and stole money and food at a house before killing four residents in China’s northeastern city of Helong, South Korean media reported, adding that the victims were either shot dead or beaten to death. State-run Xinhua News Agency, citing media reports, said that a North Korean runaway soldier killed the four Chinese citizens during a robbery after he crossed the border into China in search of food.
“Killing several Chinese nationals... Is a major crime, so there are good possibilities that China, unlike other runaway North Korean soldiers captured before, will not hand him over to the North,” South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency quoted a South Korean official as saying. A representation has been lodged with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in this regard, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told media here.
Asked whether the soldier was caught, Hua said she has no further details, adding that China’s public security department will handle the case in line with relevant laws. 10-years of military service is necessary for all physically fit young men in North Korea.