Russia has deported four South Korean agents on charges of gathering information on North Korea, a South Korean daily reported Monday.
The four, who had operated in Moscow and nearby Russian cities, returned home between late last year and the end of June at the request of the Russian authorities, the Chosun Ilbo said, citing South Korean and Russian officials.
The officials, however, declined to give the reason for their expulsion, the paper said.
Two of the agents had two years of their term remaining when they were abruptly expelled, according to the report.
The Chosun said none of them were designated "persona non grata" by the Russian government and the South Korean government took no reciprocal measure against Russian agents operating in Korea.