In anticipation of North Korea's fifth nuclear test, China deployed around 2,000 troops along its border with Pyongyang and would continue to send more military forces to the area in the coming months.

A Hong Kong-based human rights group announced Wednesday that Beijing dispatched around 2,000 soldiers to the border with half of them responsible for measuring the radioactive material that would be produced in case of another nuclear test by North Korea.

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The Chinese military said Pyongyang could be preparing for its fifth nuclear test in May to coincide with its Seventh Party Congress and Beijing does not want to be caught unarmed.

This was not the first time China established troops along its border with North Korea. Beijing sent 3,000 military personnel to the northeast region following Pyongyang's missile tests in January.

China also stationed troops along the border during a landmine crisis between the North and South in 2015.

In the latter part of 2013, China deployed thousands of soldiers to the military hotspot after the execution of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's uncle.

More Chinese soldiers were also posted at several major observation outposts who patrol the areas on a 24/7 basis.

Chinese experts

Recently, Chinese international relations experts said Beijing, which was once North Korea's closest ally, was highly unlikely to defend Pyongyang in the event of a war or conflict.

The experts said the "Friendship Treaty" signed by both countries 55 years ago became null and void the moment Pyongyang started to develop its nuclear programme.

Under the treaty, China was expected to defend the North in case of an attack by outside forces. 

TagsNorth Korea, Chinese troops, North Korea's fifth nuclear test, Korean peninsula, radioactive material, Beijing, landmine crisis, King Jong-Un, cold relations