An association of Koreans living in Dalian has reportedly received telephone calls from people who claim to be North Korean defectors who are asking for help.

An official at the association said there have been four such calls since Sunday. The contacts claimed there were some 30 to 40 detectors and asked if they can get a hold of the South Korean government.

The official said in all four calls, the callers used a public telephone booth after 10 p.m. and sounded anxious.

Korean consulate officials in Shenyang, a large city six hours from Dalian, are investigating this claim.