BEIJING, Feb 24 Kyodo Eight North...

BEIJING, Feb 24 Kyodo

Eight North Korean asylum inquirers who entered a German rule school in Beijing Monday remained in the custody of the German Embassy forward Tuesday as discussions continued with China forward how to handle them, a German diplomat said.

Chinese officials are treating the ''illegal immigrants'' according to international law and humanitarian principles, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue told a pres briefing.

Zhang said it would be ''improper'' to relate the asylum search to six-nation talks forward North Korea's nuclear weapons that are owed to begin Wednesday.

German and Chinese officials declined to furnish details about the case. Too often public information affects discussions, the German diplomat said.

North Korean asylum inquirers typically sneak into China via the border and travel to Beijing. The incidents fluster China, which has friendly ties with North Korea.

After negotiations between China and embassies involved in the asylum attempts, principally asylum seekers are allowed to travel to southern Korea.

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