Suspected N. Korean army personnel kill 3 Chinese citizens

A group of North Koreans believed to be soldiers crossed the border to China, killing three Chinese citizens. If killers are identified as North Korean military personnel, the incident could adversely affect the North Korea-China ties.

According to the public security officials in the Chinese border city of Helong, Jilin Province on Wednesday, three North Koreans believed to be army deserters killed three Chinese citizens -- a 55-year-old surnamed Chao, his 26-year-old daughter and a 67-year-old Sun -- in a village in the city last Friday. Two died on the scene, while the other was taken to a hospital to no avail.

The Chinese public security authorities are on the manhunt for the killers, who were wearing the North Korean military uniform, were believed to have crossed the border from the North and ran away into a nearby mountain. The Jilin Province, the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture and Helong have joined forces to arrest the suspects at large, stepping up security checks at border areas. Although it has yet to be confirmed if the perpetrators were North Korean military personnel, the Chinese local newspaper reported that they were "suspected" to be North Korean soldiers. The paper added that it was unclear whether the suspects had ran back away to the North or were hiding somewhere in China.

Hong Lei, a spokesman for Beijing`s foreign ministry, confirmed the incident at a regular news briefing. When asked if the suspects were North Korean military personnel, the spokesman did not give further details, noting an investigation was under way. Last year, there were two cases in which North Koreans killed Chinese citizens in Helong.

bonhong@donga.com