Russia and North Korea have signed an agreement on the extradition of illegal immigrants staying in their respective countries, Russia's emigration office said Wednesday. 

The agreement was reached Tuesday in Moscow between Nikolay Smorodin, deputy head of Russia's Federal Migration Service and North Korea's deputy foreign minister Pak Myong-guk, the office said.

It said the two countries also signed related protocols of the agreement on the transfer and acceptance of persons who enter or stay illegally in Russia and North Korea.

According to an FMS official, the agreement will greatly contribute to decreasing the number of illegal migrants staying in both countries.

Some 10,000 North Koreans are reportedly staying in Russia as legitimate workers, mostly in Maritime Province, Khabarovsk and Sakhalin.

Some of them, however, are reportedly staying illegally in Russia even after their labor contracts have expired.

Besides, some other North Koreans have fled North Korea to sneak into Russia via other countries, including China.

The agreement calls for the deportation of illegal immigrants within 30 days after they are confirmed to be staying without legitimate documents.

In November last year, the two countries also signed a treaty on mutual legal assistance in criminal cases and a treaty on the extradition of criminals between the two countries. (Yonhap)