BEIJING, Dec. 9 -- The removal of Jang Song-thaek, uncle-in-law of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) leader Kim Jong Un, from all posts is an "internal affair" of the DPRK, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday.

The DPRK announced Monday that Jang had been removed from all posts and expelled from the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) for his "anti-Party and counterrevolutionary crimes," the official news agency KCNA reported.

"As a friendly neighbor, China hopes the DPRK to have national stability, economic growth and for its people to enjoy happiness. China will stay committed to pushing forward the traditional friendship and cooperation with the DPRK," Hong Lei told a daily news briefing.

Jang, 67, who was married to Kim's biological aunt, was senior general and vice chairman of the National Defense Commission, and secretary of the administration department of the WPK.

"Jang and his followers committed criminal acts baffling imagination and they did tremendous harm to our party and revolution," KCNA said.