China to safeguard its citizens, business in DPRK

BEIJING - A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said that China will safeguard the legitimate rights and safety of its citizens and business in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

"As far as I know, the Chinese embassy in the DPRK is still under normal operation," spokesman Hong Lei said in a written statement released on Sunday morning in Beijing.

The DPRK Foreign Ministry on Friday said it would be unable to guarantee the safety of embassies and international organizations in the event of a conflict.

Hong said China is "seriously concerned" of the growing tension on the Korean Peninsula and has requested DPRK to protect the safety of its diplomats and embassy personnel according to international law and international norms, including the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

Tensions have been running high in the Korean Peninsula since DPRK conducted its third nuclear test on Feb 12 in protest against the joint military drills between Seoul and Washington.

Last weekend, the DPRK declared that it had entered "a state of war" against the Republic of Korea. It has also threatened to launch a preemptive nuclear strike as self-defense.