Diplomatic sources in Beijing say that the eight North Koreans who took refuge at a German school in the Chinese capital would be allowed to come to South Korea.

The sources said the German Embassy has notified the Chinese Foreign Ministry of the identities of the asylum seekers and is now negotiating with the Beijing government for their safe passage to Seoul.

The group entered the German government-run school by climbing over the school fence on Monday afternoon. One member of the group was reported to be a woman.

The incident came two days before the six-party talks aimed at defusing tensions over the North's nuclear program.

The German school was the target of a series of asylum bids by North Koreans about 18 months ago. In September 2002, a group of 15 North Korean men, women and children took refuge there before being allowed to leave for South Korea.