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China and Korea are in the midst of a diplomatic spat over the use of what Seoul says was excessive force against Korean diplomats who were trying to stop the arrest of four North Korean defectors at a Korean international school in Beijing on Tuesday. ˇ°Korean Diplomats hindered Chinese police in performing their duties. The Chinese government is expressing its discontent with this,ˇ± Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told reporters Thursday. ˇ°Chinese police were sent there for the safety of the school after receiving a report that dubious people entered the school.ˇ± He added the arrested four North Koreans ˇ°will be treated in accordance with the law.ˇ±
Arresting four North Korean defectors on the rooftop of the five-story Korean international school, police reportedly twisted the arms of Korean consular officials who had identified themselves as diplomats and dragging them out of the school. The Korean Embassy in China complained to the Chinese Foreign Ministry and demanded the North Koreans are be handed over to South Korea. The Korean Foreign Ministry also called in a Chinese embassy official to protest on Wednesday. It remains unclear whether the arrested refugees will be sent back to North Korea or not. Beijing, a staunch Pyongyang ally, considers North Korean defectors illegal immigrants.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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