The Russian government is known to be preparing for a massive influx of North Korean refugees.

An official at the Russian Far East center of the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations told Kyodo News of Japan that Moscow has ordered a provincial government to conduct drills for accommodating North Korean refugees amid growing inter-Korean tension.

The official says the starting date and period of the drills have yet to be set but the provincial government has begun preparation.

Kyodo says Moscow will use as facilities for the refugees eight residential districts in Russian Far East that were used as military bases under the Soviet Union era.

Russia conducted an emergency drill for a massive influx of North Korean refugees in Siberia in August 2003.