The South Korean Embassy in Thailand said Thursday that about 400 North Korean escapees being held in an immigration detention center continue to mount a hunger strike that began Tuesday.

An embassy official said that about 20 North Korean escapees who were expecting to go to South Korea started the strike after Thai authorities delayed approval of their departure. Since then, the official added, all other North Koreans at the center have joined in.

The official went on to say that the embassy is working with Thai authorities to ensure that the North Korean detainees can come to the South as soon as possible.