SEEKERS BEIJING, MARCH 23, SPA-- THE TOP U.N. REFUGEE OFFICIAL SAID THURSDAY HE PRESSED CHINESE OFFICIALS ON THE STATUS OF NORTH KOREAN ASYLUM-SEEKERS IN TALKS THIS WEEK BUT GAVE NO INDICATION BEIJING HAD AGREED TO DROP ITS REFUSAL TO TREAT THEM AS REFUGEES, AP REPORTED. U.N. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES ANTONIO GUTERRES SAID, HOWEVER, THAT CHINA IS CREATING ITS FIRST LEGAL ASYLUM SYSTEM, WHICH MIGHT HELP TO RESOLVE THE CONFLICT. THE FORMER PORTUGUESE PRIME MINISTER SAID NORTH KOREAN ASYLUM-SEEKERS WERE AT THE CENTER OF OUR DEBATES DURING HIS FIVE-DAY VISIT, THE FIRST TO CHINA IN NINE YEARS BY A HEAD OF THE U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY. IT IS A QUESTION BOTH SIDES RECOGNIZE EXISTS AND BOTH SIDES WANT TO FACE AND TO SOLVE TOGETHER, GUTERRES SAID AT A NEWS CONFERENCE. HE SAID BOTH SIDES HAD A LOT OF HOMEWORK TO DO IN COMING MONTHS BUT DIDN'T SAY WHETHER THEY WOULD HOLD MORE TALKS.
