The European Union is believed to be discussing ways to ban the inflow of North Korean workers and repatriate current workers in the EU back to North Korea.

Citing an unnamed EU source, the Yomiuri Shimbun daily reported on Saturday, the EU's foreign ministerial council will adopt a statement concerning North Korea and consider additional independent sanctions on the regime.

According to the source, France is leading discussions on the latest measure, with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian proposing repatriation during a council meeting.

Based on EU statistics from last year, at least 624 North Koreans with visas and permits are working in the economic bloc.

Over 500 of them are in Poland, followed by 54 in Germany, 15 in Bulgaria and nine in Sweden.

North Korean workers in Europe are known to be mostly serving at shipyards and construction sites. 

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