20 N. Koreans Seek Asylum

About 20 North Koreans who said they were fleeing persecution in their hard-line communist country rushed past Chinese guards and sought asylum today at the Spanish Embassy, threatening suicide if sent back.

The men, women and children ran through the embassy’s front gate, past two armed Chinese guards. One asylum seeker struggled with a guard who grabbed him, but broke free and ran with the others into the main building.

Within minutes, dozens of Chinese guards converged on the compound. Spanish diplomats came out, talked to some of the guards and then followed the asylum seekers into the building. Chinese guards formed a cordon outside the compound, shooing away bystanders.

The incident presented a dilemma for the Chinese government. China is a close ally of North Korea but has been criticized by human rights and aid groups for refusing to grant refugee status to North Koreans fleeing famine and repression.