Radio Free Asia (RFA) says North Korea is conducting large-scale citizen identification activities in areas bordering China in order to determine whether any North Koreans in the area have illegally crossed the Chinese border.

Citing internal sources, RFA says that the identification activities have been conducted in the border region since last month in order for security officers to confirm the identity of local residents.

The report says the survey seeks to expose any North Koreans who have crossed the border illegally to earn money.

The report added that 13 North Korean women were arrested in China while doing business on January 31st and were then handed over to authorities in the North's Yanggang Province.