Eight Russian diplomats left for the North Korean border on Tuesday, multiple informed sources told NK News, further depleting an already skeletal presence of foreign residents who face strict COVID-19-related restrictions that affect their ability to acquire basic goods, get medical treatment or travel outside of Pyongyang.

The eight Russians traveled by rail towards the Northeast city of Chongjin, where they were expected to rest overnight, sources said. They then were slated to continue on to Rason, where they would cross the border to Russia using the Khasan-Tumangang rail bridge on Thursday.