A Korean pastor with a Chinese citizenship was found dead in Jilin province, China around 8 PM local time on Saturday.
Choong Ryul Han, a pastor, was known to have helped defectors from North Korea and served at Changbai Church in Jilin.
According to reports, a North Korean security official is suspected to have killed the pastor. Han was found with stab marks on his body and is suspected to have been killed elsewhere and then moved to a hillside in Changbai.
Chinese authorities are currently investigating the cause for Han's death. As Han is a Chinese citizen, a strain on China-North Korea relations may result if the investigation finds that a North Korean official was involved in Han's death.
Han founded Changbai Church in 1993 and has helped defectors since then. He is also known to have done mission work related to underground churches in North Korea.
