Tokyo is exasperated with the steady stream of North Koreans seeking asylum at Japanese diplomatic and other missions overseas.

In the latest incident on Wednesday, eight North Koreans sought asylum at the Japanese School in Beijing.

In Tokyo, Foreign Ministry officials are working on plans to fly the group to a third country before sending them on to South Korea.

The Japanese School has been targeted four times over the past six months by 52 North Koreans seeking a new start.

With so many North Koreans fleeing the impoverished state, China and South Korea have begun taking a tougher approach to dealing with the problem, Japanese officials say.

There are also limits to what school administrators in Beijing can do. Because the facility is not covered by diplomatic immunity, its administrators have tightened security, dipping into a reserve fund set aside by the Japanese government.

The school has added guards to its security detail, including those who patrol the grounds at night. Security alarms and monitoring cameras have also been installed.

A lapse in security gave the eight North Koreans the opportunity Wednesday to enter school grounds by using ladders to climb over a fence that encloses the facility.

As of last September, the school had 497 children enrolled at elementary and junior high levels.

With so many children enrolled, school officials decided it was too risky to erect high-voltage fences. For similar reasons, they decided it would be unwise for watch dogs to run loose on school grounds.

North Koreans have concentrated on the school in Beijing because other foreign language facilities, with the exception of one for South Koreans, have begun turning over North Korean asylum-seekers to Chinese authorities.

Japanese diplomats are wary of requesting assistance from Chinese officials because Beijing has taken a hard-line policy toward defectors. Another reason cited is Beijing's traditionally close ties with Pyongyang. Officials also worry about possible security issues, sources said.

In late February, a U.S. State Department report said China repatriated thousands of North Koreans last year.

China now expects Japanese Embassy officials to provide the identity of each defector who leaves China after being granted asylum.

Seoul has cut back on financial assistance it provides to North Korean defectors and made applicants wait longer before granting them permission to enter South Korea.

Still, Japanese government officials want to do whatever they can.

``The issuance of visas by Japan to Jewish refugees before the end of World War II is still being appreciated by Jewish groups,'' said a government source. ``Continuing with humanitarian support will in the long-run become an asset for Japan.''

Government officials are pinning their hopes on legislation being considered by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to provide a stronger legal basis to help asylum seekers. This would include offering more protection and support for those who make it to Japan.(IHT/Asahi: March 11,2005)