BEIJING - A Foreign Ministry spokesman on Wednesday reiterated that those who have illegally entered China from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) are not refugees, adding that China opposes politicizing their crossing.

Illegal border-crossers who have entered China for economic reasons are not refugees, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said during a daily news briefing.

China has been treating the DPRK nationals "prudently and properly" according to domestic law, international law and humanitarian interests, Hong said, adding that China's treatment of the nationals is in line with the interests of all relevant parties and international practices.

"The Human Rights Council is not the right place to discuss the issue," Hong said.

Reports have stated that President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Lee Myung-bak has criticized China's treatment of the DPRK nationals and that the ROK is considering bringing the issue before the Human Rights Council.