The deadline has finally arrived for all North Korean overseas laborers working in UN member states to return to their home country, as UN sanctions intended to limit funding to Pyongyang’s nuclear and weapons programs came into effect Sunday.

The requirement was agreed by the UN Security Council (UNSC) under Resolution 2397, passed on December 22, 2017.

While significant numbers of North Korean workers have been repatriated worldwide since the measure’s passing, reports have been mixed in recent weeks detailing last-minute waves of returning workers but also apparent continuity of some operations despite the deadline. 

Sunday’s official deadline comes as