The Chinese government has officially confirmed that a North Korean defector who acquired South Korean citizenship was abducted by suspected Northern agents in August near China's Duman River border area.

Beijing authorities have told Seoul officials that the 25-year-old female, Jin Gyung-suk, was kidnapped by North Koreans lying in ambush near the Chinese area bordering the North.

The South Korean foreign ministry has informed Jin's husband, Moon Jeong-hoon, of the confirmed information. Moon visited China last week for questioning by the Chinese police regarding the matter.

During the interview, Moon said the Chinese authorities had told him that his wife had fallen victim to the abducters' trap, and that her whereabouts were still unknown.

Four people, including a Korean-Chinese taxi driver who reportedly facilitated the suspected agents' contact with Jin, were immediately arrested and investigated by Chinese authorities, but are believed to have been released after paying a fine of 600,000 won, some 565 US dollars.