Two North Korean girls seek asylum in Laos-Yonhap

SEOUL, Dec 21 (Reuters) Two North Korean girls, aged 12 and 14, have entered the South Korean embassy in Laos to seek asylum, Yonhap news agency reported today, citing an aid worker.

It is rare for North Koreans to seek asylum in Laos and the case comes as Thailand -- often used by potential North Korean refugees -- has been cracking down on defectors from the reclusive communist state.

The two girls were among a group of seven North Koreans, the aid worker, who specialises in helping North Koreans, was quoted as saying. The aid worker did not say what happened to the other five.

Officials from the embassy were not immediately available for comment and South Korea's Foreign Ministry said it is not its policy to comment on cases such as this.

Aid workers say North Koreans often cross the border with China and then seek passage to South Korea -- which almost always grants them immediate citizenship -- via third countries such as Thailand.

According to South Korea's Unification Ministry, 1,054 North Koreans made it to the South in the first seven months of 2006, an increase of nearly 60 per cent from the same period in 2005.

REUTERS SP KN1435