Updated at 22:45 KST on Aug. 17 to include comments from the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Swedish diplomats vacated their embassy in North Korea last week, NK News has learned from informed sources, further depleting the population of foreign diplomats in Pyongyang amid almost seven months of strict COVID-19 containment measures.

The Swedes, including Ambassador Joachim Bergström, were some of the last remaining diplomats from western Europe staying in North Korea, following the exit of German representatives in March and the British in May.

NK Newsunderstands Swedish embassy staff temporarily left North Korea last week via the