Russia says it will NOT carry out an early forced extradition of North Korean workers.<br />Rather, it will allow them to stay until the deadline of the end of 2019 set by the UN Security Council.<br /> Russia's foreign ministry spokesperson made the remark on Thursday through local media.<br />The stance is in contrast to earlier reports where the Russian ambassador to North Korea said his country has started to extradite some North Koreans back to their homeland.<br />An estimated 37-thousand North Koreans are working in Russia's construction, logging and agriculture industries.<br />They are believed to be earning overseas cash for the North's weapons programs. <br />
