Asked about North Korea's dispatch of troops to Russia, China said, "I don't know the relevant situation."

For the first time, China said it did not know about North Korea's dispatch of troops to Russia.

Asked at a regular briefing if he was aware of North Korea's deployment to Russia, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian replied, "I am not aware of the situation."

"China's position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear," he said, reiterating his existing position that "we hope each party will drive easing of the situation and work on a political solution."

Earlier, China's foreign ministry avoided immediate answers to several questions about sending North Korean troops and only repeated its principled stance.