Kim Il-sung University Students in Berlin Face Return Trip Disruptions Amid Novel Coronavirus Outbreak

Suspension of Beijing-Pyongyang Flights

Possibility of Being Stuck in Beijing

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Shim Nayoung] As the novel coronavirus infection rapidly spreads in China, the return journey of professors and students from Kim Il-sung University in North Korea, who came to Berlin, Germany for training, has been disrupted. According to local sources on the 26th (local time), 12 students and 2 professors from the Department of German Language and Literature at Kim Il-sung University, who arrived in Berlin on the 4th to attend the Free University of Berlin's seasonal semester, completed their local schedule and departed the day before.

Originally, before the disease spread, they were scheduled to arrive in Pyongyang, North Korea by air via Istanbul, Turkey and Beijing, China, but North Korea recently banned entry of flights from Beijing for foreigners including its own citizens to block the influx of Wuhan pneumonia, making their return journey difficult.

North Korea has suspended entry of Chinese tourists and is reportedly temporarily banning travel to China for foreigners residing in North Korea. The North Korean professors and students also considered returning to Pyongyang via Moscow and Vladivostok in Russia in consultation with the Free University of Berlin, but the plan was canceled due to visa issues.

With no other options, the North Korean professors and students reportedly decided to first fly to Beijing and then take a train to the North Korean border area. In this case, it is expected to take at least 4 to 5 days from departure in Berlin to arrival in Pyongyang. Given the rapidly developing Wuhan pneumonia situation, it is uncertain whether even this plan will be executed.

Chinese authorities are intensifying measures to prevent the spread of the disease, such as suspending intercity bus operations between Beijing and other cities on this day. There is also a possibility of being stuck in Beijing until the situation calms down.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.