Seoul, South Korea ? Ending a diplomatic standoff, 26 North Koreans who had sought refuge at the South Korean and Canadian Embassies in Beijing arrived today in Seoul for permanent settlement.

The North Koreans 13 men, 11 women and two children arrived in two groups by way of Singapore and Bangkok a day after they were allowed to leave China.

Their names were not released. Most North Koreans are reluctant to identify themselves because of fear of possible retaliation by North Korean authorities against their families in the communist country.

Two North Korean teenagers who had sheltered at the Canadian Embassy since June 8 arrived shortly after dawn from Singapore.

A few hours later, a group of 24 North Koreans, including a woman who was eight months pregnant, flew in from Bangkok, Thailand. They had forced their way into the South Korean Embassy and consular offices in Beijing on 11 occasions over a one-month period in a bid to seek free travel to Seoul.

Thousands of North Koreans who fled famine and repression in their isolated homeland live in hiding in China. Scores have sought asylum since March at foreign diplomatic offices.

Many have been allowed by China to leave for the South, despite a treaty with North Korea that requires China to return fleeing North Koreans to their country.

The latest defection bids heightened a diplomatic row between China and South Korea. After negotiations, China finally agreed to let them leave the country, apparently mindful of international criticism of its handling of what was seen by many as a humanitarian issue.