The South Korean consulate in Beijing is considering another temporary suspension of its operations following a recent series of forced entries into its compound by asylum-seeking North Koreans.

An official at the consulate said the compound is currently housing some 120 North Koreans, more than double the capacity it can handle, and that it is affecting its normal operations for issuing visas and passports.

The consulate had suspended its operations on two occasions in October last year after the number of North Korean asylum seekers at the facility swelled to 110.