China hopes DPRK remains stable: FM spokesman

BEIJING - China on Friday responded to the execution of Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s Jang Song-Thaek by expressing hope that the country will remain stable.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said the execution of Jang is an internal affair of the DPRK. "We hope to see national stability, economic development and people living in happiness in the DPRK," he said.

Jang, vice chairman of the National Defense Commission, was executed on Thursday after a special military tribunal convicted him of committing "unforgivable crimes" and being a "traitor," the official news agency KCNA reported on Friday.

When asked whether Jang's downfall would affect economic ties between the two nations, Hong said the development of China-DPRK trade links meets common interests of both countries. China will continue to push forward pragmatic cooperation with the DPRK in trade and other fields.

"We hope and we believe that the business relations between China and the DPRK will continue to progress in a healthy and stable way," Hong said.

In response to another question regarding DPRK people seeking asylum in China, Hong said he was not aware of such media reports.