North Korea plans to send laborers to Russia-occupied Donetsk in eastern Ukraine after lifting pandemic border restrictions, according to the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) foreign ministry, while the breakaway region’s leader has also expressed interest in meeting with Kim Jong Un.

North Korean Ambassador to Russia Sin Hong Chol explained Pyongyang’s plans during a meeting to discuss officially establishing diplomatic ties with DPR Ambassador to Russia Olga Makeeva in Moscow last Friday, the DPR foreign ministry report said.