Three North Koreans who took refuge in Western embassies in Beijing in the past few days are reported to have left China. Diplomatic sources said the three may be on their way to South Korea by way of the Philippines. 

Two asylum seekers, who entered the American embassy on Friday, left Beijing Saturday morning. A man who scaled the wall of the German embassy Thursday, left later in the afternoon. 

Immigration officials confirm that one of the refugees has arrived in the Philippine capital, Manila, where they say he will stay two or three days. The diplomatic sources believe he will travel from there to South Korea. 

The defections put China in an awkward position, torn between Communist ally North Korea, economic partner South Korea and the U.N. refugee agency, which wants China to recognize North Korean asylum seekers as refugees. 

Last month, 25 North Koreans took refuge at the Spanish embassy in Beijing, demanding asylum. They were allowed to go to South Korea by way of the Philippines. 

China has a treaty with North Korea requiring it to send home North Korean defectors, which it regards as economic migrants. 

Aid groups say as many as 300,000 North Koreans have fled into China in recent years to escape political repression and famine in their homeland. 

Human rights groups have criticized China for sending North Korean refugees home against their will. 

Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters. 

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