BEIJING - China on Monday said it has lodged representations to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) over the killing of four Chinese citizens by a DPRK runaway.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the remarks at a daily press briefing in response to a question on whether China has noticed relevant reports.

It is reported that a DPRK runaway soldier killed the four Chinese citizens during a robbery after he crossed the border into China in search of food.

Hua said China's public security department will handle the case in line with relevant laws.