China lodges protest over killing

China has lodged an official protest with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea after a DPRK army deserter allegedly killed four Chinese citizens late last month in the border city of Helong, Jilin province, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on Monday.

"China has lodged representations with the DPRK and China's public security authorities are dealing with the issue," ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said, declining to give more details.

The incident took place on Dec 27 in the border area of Nanping in Helong, Beijing News reported. Nanping is just north of the Tumen River and overlooks the DPRK's North Hamkyong province, according to the Republic of Korea's Yonhap News Agency.