Chinese government authorities in a city bordering North Korea are cracking down on foreigners illegally entering and staying in the area, according to a municipal angency’s announcement this week.

The directive targeting foreigners follows unverified reports in July that China forcibly repatriated 50 North Korean escapees, as well as a recent meeting between a North Korean and Chinese official on “safeguarding” stability along the two countries’ border amid the DPRK’s strict COVID-19 border lockdown.

The Baishan City Public Security Bureau posted the announcement on the Chinese content platform Toutiao on Aug. 31, encouraging citizens to report the “illegal entry, illegal