The South Korean government is holding a meeting of the National Security Council today Saturday after China ignored its request not to repatriate a family of seven North Koreans recognised as refugees by the United Nations last month.

Correspondents say the meeting is likely to seek international pressure on Pyongyang to secure the safety of the family.

They were held by Russian guards in November after reportedly crossing from China in search of food and were sent back to China.

The Chinese authorities declared the group to be illegal immigrants and repatriated them -- a move the UN refugee agency said was in violation of the 1951 Refugee Convention.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service