A North Korean soldier was reportedly caught by Chinese security officers while trying to force his way into the South Korean consulate building in Beijing last Tuesday.

The Seoul-based Yonhap news agency, quoting a North Korean escapee living in Beijing, identified the would-be asylum seeker as a 23-year old active duty sergeant. The reports said the man, identified only by his last name, Choe, climbed over the fence of the South Korean consulate and managed to run to the building's front yard before being caught by Chinese security guards.

A Foreign Ministry official said Seoul is trying to confirm the reports.

He explained that the yards of the consulate are not covered by consular protection since only the consulate building was leased by the Foreign Ministry.