China has begun civilian patrols along parts of the border with North Korea in a bid to better protect its citizens after a North Korean army deserter killed four Chinese during a robbery attempt late last month, a Chinese state-run newspaper reported Thursday.

China's Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, which shares a 500-kilometer border with North Korea, established a "military-civilian defense system for better border security," the China Daily reported.

China lodged a protest with North Korea over the Dec. 28 killing, but appears to avoid further straining ties with its only treaty ally, Pyongyang, describing the border incident as "an individual criminal case." The North Korean soldier was shot dead by Chinese police.

"Civilian patrols have been started in border villages and counties, and every 10 neighboring households have their own border security group," the report said. "If one household reports anything suspicions, all 10 will respond and report back to the village head."

Telephone hotlines have been set up "to encourage residents to report any illegal border activities they might notice, and emergency response teams have been founded within the civilian patrols and trained by military border guards," according to the report.

Ethnic Koreans account for about 30 percent of the population in the Yanbian prefecture.

It has not been uncommon for North Korean soldiers or citizens to cross the border into Chinese towns and attempt robberies in search of food. (Yonhap)