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Coronavirus pandemic

North Korea workers to be repatriated as Pyongyang opens borders, says Russian diplomat

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova recalled that transport communication was stopped early in February by the decision of the North Korean side amid the spread of the coronavirus

MOSCOW, May 21./TASS/. A small group of workers from North Korea stranded in Russia due to the pandemic will return home as soon as the two countries reopen their borders closed amid the spread of the novel coronavirus, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a briefing on Thursday.

"Those insignificant in number workers who failed to leave after December 22, 2019, are not engaged in labor activities," the diplomat said, adding that transport communication was stopped early in February by the decision of the North Korean side amid the spread of the novel coronavirus.

"Let me reiterate, it was fully stopped between the Russian Federation and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and that is why repatriation of the workers was suspended," Zakharova said. "Their repatriation will be resumed as a matter of priority as soon as Pyongyang decides to open the borders," the diplomat stressed.

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North Korea Maria Zakharova

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Final statement by G7 top diplomats to call for supplying more air defenses to Kiev

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Ukraine convicts 12th world chess champion for recognizing Donetsk, Lugansk republics

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Nuclear sites in Iran’s Isfahan province are safe — Tasnim agency

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Two pilots of jet that crashed in southern Russia hospitalized

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Ukraine turns from sovereign country into Western protectorate, Hungarian PM says

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West, Kiev indulge in nuclear blackmail by demanding control of ZNPP — Russian MFA

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EU summit calls to continue work on duties on Russian, Belarusian agricultural produce

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Three Ukrainian soldiers swim across Dnieper to surrender to Russian troops — governor

Vladimir Saldo called on other Ukrainian servicemen to switch to the Russian side and request the corresponding assistance

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French president says creating Israeli-type air defense network for Ukraine impossible

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Russia, Iran maintain contacts on nuclear security - deputy foreign minister

Sergey Ryabkov said that "very soon, Russia and Iran will have new additional opportunities to discuss the situation in the Middle East in general, as well as details of what is going on there at this point"

Syrian ministry says Israeli jets struck air defense facilities in country’s south

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Ukrainian military under constant gunfire by Russian troops near Urozhainoye, says POW

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Hezbollah warns Israel it will fight back if attacks on Lebanon continue

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Iran threatens to attack Israel's "nuclear centers" in case of aggression on its part

Ahmad Haqtalab argued that Israel had been conducting "subversive and terrorist activities" against the Islamic republic's nuclear infrastructure for year

Russia can join top three countries by lithium reserves — governor

Infrastructure is required to implement the investment project, both power transmission lines and the railroad, Andrey Chibis noted

US blocks Security Council resolution granting full UN membership to Palestine

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Ukrainian front may collapse this summer — newspaper

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Press review: Ukraine, Israel vie for EU’s attention and Georgia passes controversial bill

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Russia’s advanced radar in Kaliningrad to monitor entire territory of Europe — source

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CIA chief says Ukraine could lose by end of this year — Politico

William Burns said "there is a very real risk that the Ukrainians could at least put Putin in a position where he could essentially dictate the terms of a political settlement"

Iran intends to bolster military cooperation with Russia — envoy to Moscow

Kazem Jalali noted that Iran had demonstrated its ability to ensure security and nudge the region toward a de-escalation

Tehran’s two major airports cancel international flights — Mehr

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Moscow International Film Festival to open in Russian capital

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Nord Stream AG's refusal to pay compensation destroys Western insurance system — diplomat

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Military base near Iran’s Isfahan hit following attack — newspaper

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Iran tells US about April 13 attack on Israel, it does not want escalation — top diplomat

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian added that prior to the attack, Tehran said that it would not target US military infrastructure in the Middle East "except in a situation where the United States wants to take military measures in support of Israel"

Germany fails to present evidence in case of espionage suspects — Russian embassy

The Russian embassy has called attempts to probe into the alleged involvement of Russian special services in the development of rumored plans for attacks on military facilities in Germany "absurd and ridiculous"

US blackmails other countries at United Nations — Russian mission

Dmitry Polyansky said "this shameful neocolonial tactics are fully exposed now in the context of Gaza War"