Two North Korean dissidents fled to China in November, an activist broadcaster here claimed Sunday.

Kim Seung-chul of North Korea Reform Radio told the Chosun Ilbo the two made a telephone call to his station from China asking for help.

They are from Jagang Province and had been listening to the radio station for five years with a home-made receiver and launched a pro-democracy group there, Kim said.

He quoted one of the men as saying the broadcasts inspired him to think about how to improve North Korea. He said they printed anti-regime leaflets based on the broadcasts and scattered them in markets and streets.

But they decided to flee because one of their members was arrested in early November and state security dragnet was closin g in.

They brought their radio with them. "We brought it with us as an evidence that there are young North Koreans who are fighting for freedom and reunification," Kim quoted them as saying.

Kim said he helped them escape through China and they are currently in Thailand and expected to arrive in South Korea next month.

