Asylum seekers in Japan embassy

China has tightened security at Beijing's foreign missions

Seven asylum seekers, believed to be North Koreans, have been taken to the Japanese embassy in Beijing after entering a school in the city.

Two men, four women and a child scaled a wall and barbed wire to get into the Japanese school at dawn on Friday.

Asylum-seekers have been invading foreign missions in China since 2002.

In an earlier incident at the same school, 29 North Koreans sought asylum in September. Most of that group have now left for South Korea.

Despite having an agreement with Pyongyang to repatriate such people, the Chinese have allowed many asylum seekers to travel to South Korea through third countries.

A spokesman for the Japanese foreign ministry said the fate of the latest group would be dealt with in consultation with the Chinese government.

"This is a humanitarian issue," said Hatsuhisa Takashima.

South Korean TV showed footage of the seven as they used a ladder to scale a concrete wall then crossed the barbed wire using their bare hands.

One appeared to be without shoes despite the cold winter temperatures, and a small child was seen clinging to the back of one of the adults.

They carried a note in English which read: "We are North Koreans. We want to go to South Korea. Please help us," Japanese officials said.

The group was moved very quickly to the Japanese embassy for once officials realised what was going on.

Their identities are now being checked.

Embassies, unlike schools, are considered foreign territory and beyond the reach of the Chinese authorities.