MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia’s ambassador to North Korea said on Friday Moscow had not violated U.N. sanctions restricting the employment of North Korean laborers and not brought in any new workers from the country, Interfax news agency reported.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday Russia is allowing thousands of fresh North Korean laborers into the country and granting new work permits in potential violation of U.N. sanctions.

Any new work permits that were issued to North Korean workers in Russia were for laborers already located in the country and working under old contracts, ambassador Alexander Matsegora was cited as saying by Interfax.