Amid such hard line stances from all corners of the world,... a regional government in Russia says North Korean laborers working in the region can stay until the end of the year.
Russian news agency RIA Novosti, citing the governor,.. said the workers will stay through 2018 as they are needed in the processing of seafood.
But the Russian central government has yet to grant permission for the workers' stay.
The region of Pacific Primorye is known as the largest workplace for North Koreans in Russia,... with some ten-thousand North Koreans residing there.
The Russian Ambassador to North Korea recently said his government will repatriate the tens of thousands of North Koreans working in the country,... in line with UN sanctions.