A teenage North Korean defector is reportedly seeking asylum at the South Korean consulate in Hong Kong, where he had been taking part in a mathematics competition.

According to local reports, an unnamed 18-year-old was part of a North Korean delegation that travelled to compete in a mathematics olympiad two weeks ago at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Another student who took part said organisers asked for help on July 16 to track down a North Korean who had gone missing after the contest.