Following a week of uncertainty, NK News now understands that North Korean authorities have confirmed that a single Air Koryo flight will be allowed to go to Vladivostok on Friday, while also officially ending the most restrictive of quarantine measures for expatriate residents in Pyongyang.

Approximately 60 people are expected to leave on Friday's flight – if and when Russian aviation authorities approve it – which will result in the embassy of Germany and both Swiss and French missions to the DPRK suspending all operations for the time being.