N Koreans on hunger strike in Thailand - UN

BANGKOK, Apr 25 (Reuters) More than 100 North Korean refugees are on hunger strike at a Bangkok immigration detention centre in protest at their delayed departure for South Korea, the UN refugee agency today said.

''As far as we know they are protesting delays in their departures, which have not yet been approved by Thai immigration authorities,'' said Kitty McKinsey, a spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Thai immigration police said that was untrue.

''Nothing's happening,'' said Lieutenant Colonel Prawit Sirithorn, supervisor of the Bangkok Immigration Detention Centre. ''Some of them might have been stressed out because of the heat.'' The strikers are among 400 North Koreans, including 300 women crammed into one 120 sq metre cell, held at the centre after they fled the impoverished communist state.

With hot season temperatures nearing 40 degrees centigrade in the Thai capital, the living conditions were harsh.

''The women lie head to toe, sleeping like cord wood. They have a lot of fans outside their cell, but it's extremely hot,'' McKinsey said.

Most North Korean refugees cross the border into China and then seek asylum -- via a third country -- in South Korea, where they are almost always granted citizenship.

In Seoul, Peter Jung of the Seoul-based group Justice for North Korea said the hunger strike began yesterday to protest against a delay by the South Korean government in giving them permanent refuge.

''They are in deplorable conditions. Many of the women are ill,'' Jung said.

REUTERS ABM HS1802