A Russian news outlet says the North Korean regime has decided to evacuate a large number of citizens out of capital Pyongyang due to fears of a war with the U.S.

According to the Pravda Report on Wednesday, some 600-thousand people, which is a quarter of Pyongyang's total population, are subject to immediately leave the capital city. The order was given by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

The report said this is because there are not enough bomb shelters in Pyongyang to accommodate the whole population. It noted the 600-thousand people are mostly individuals with criminal records and they will have to leave Pyongyang to let others use the bomb shelters. 

The report cited experts as viewing the evacuation as most likely stemming from extremely strained tensions in relations with the United States.

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