Chinese Condemn State’s Dereliction of Duty, as North Koreans Rob and Kill Chinese Villagers

Recently, a North Korean soldier crossed the border into China and robbed and killed four villagers.

A North Korea soldier stands guard on the banks of the Yalu River which separates the North Korean town of Sinuiju from the Chinese border town of Dandong on Dec. 17, 2013. On Dec. 27, 2014 a North Korean soldier crossed the border into China and killed four Chinese villagers, apparently while seeking food. Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images

Recently, a North Korean soldier crossed the border into China and robbed and killed four villagers. After the incident, Chinese media reported that it is not uncommon due to famine for North Koreans to cross the border to steal food and even kill villagers. The incident has led to vehement discussions on China’s Internet and condemnation of the local government’s serious dereliction of duty.

On Dec. 27, 2014, a North Korean deserter dressed in a military uniform crossed the border and entered China’s Nanping Village in Jilin Province’s Long City to rob 100 yuan (US$16) and murder four villagers. He was shot and arrested by Chinese police, and is currently in a coma.

Although the incident occurred in China, it was first reported by the South Korean media.

The four villagers killed by the deserter were two couples surnamed Li and He respectively. What’s strange was that these two couples were ethnic Koreans who were supposed to be able to communicate with the deserter in Korean language, but nonetheless were killed. However, another villager surnamed Che who was a Han Chinese survived the incident because he could not speak the Korean language.

Although the incident occurred in China, it was first reported by the South Korean media.