Russia has begun ordering Kim Jong-un’s workers home in line with harsh new sanctions introduced last December by the UN Security Council.
The move was confirmed today by the country’s ambassador to North Korea Alexander Matsegora.
He said Russia had agreed to send workers home but argued it is a serious “blow” to the country’s economy.
The Far East of the country, the region closest to North Korea, will be hit particularly hard as it is home to some 12,000 migrant workers from the hermit state.
Mr Matsegora said: “This will deal a blow to the Russian economy, a serious blow, especially to the Far East.”
He said Russian authorities were not forcibly deporting North Koreans – but it is unlikely Kremlin officials would take no for an answer.
The ambassador said: “We don’t return anyone to North Korea by force. We have never done so.”
The workers are theoretically loyal to the hermit state and allowed to work across the border in Russia due to an agreement between Moscow and Pyongyang.
However the UN sanctions introduced in December as a response to a ballistic missile test the month before aims to reduce cooperation between the two states.
The resolutions imposed a ban on the supply of oil and oil products and ordered all countries to expel migrant labourers.
These sanctions were introduced in an attempt to economically hit Kim Jong in the pocket.
It has been followed the warming relations between North and South Korea with the two nations set to march under a joint unified flag at this month’s Winter Olympics opening ceremony.
However satellite imagery taken last month appears to show Russian ships supplying North Korean vessels with oil.
The Kremlin denies the charges despite clear evidence of sea-based oil transfers between two groups of ships.
And US president Donald Trump last month directly accused Russia of purposefully disrupting attempts to solve the North Korea crisis.
He said: “Russia is not helping us at all with North Korea. What China is helping us with, Russia is denting. In other words, Russia is making up for some of what China is doing.”