about 20 South Korean nationals are death row inmates in China, according to the Ministry of Foreign

about 20 South Korean nationals are death row inmates in China, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Declining to give the exact number, the ministry said the prisoners had been convicted of felonies, including drug offenses and murder. "We can't give the exact figure because of privacy issues," a Ministry official said on condition of anonymity. "However, we want to stress that a consul was present at every trial and confirmed the Chinese courts' rulings were made in fair and objective manners." He also said the Chinese authorities have suspended the execution of a number of South Korean death row convicts, adding "they were likely to avoid execution." The 20 death row inmates do not include three men who were executed last week for smuggling and trafficking in methamphetamines, the ministry said.