A group of eight North Koreans who took refuge Monday at a German government-run school in Beijing have now been moved to the German Embassy.
An Embassy official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Tuesday that the Embassy is negotiating with Chinese authorities on how to deal with the group.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said the group is regarded to be illegal immigrants who have escaped from the North for economic reasons and not considered as political asylum-seekers.
Zhang said it would be inappropriate to link the issue with the six-way nuclear talks underway in Beijing, adding that the group will be treated in line with international laws and humanitarian standards.
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 men, women and children climbed over the wall and spent the night there before being allowed to leave for South Korea.