North Korea Suspends All Trains and Flights to and from China Amid New Coronavirus Concerns

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] As the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) shows no signs of subsiding, North Korea has decided to suspend passenger train operations between North Korea and China due to concerns over virus inflow.

According to Voice of America (VOA) and others on the 31st, the North Korean Ministry of Railways notified the Chinese side that all passenger train operations between North Korea and China will be suspended starting from that day. Accordingly, passenger train services between Pyongyang and Dandong, Manpo and Jian, etc., will be temporarily halted. Earlier, passenger trains running between Pyongyang and Beijing were suspended starting the previous day.

Air routes between North Korea and China have also been suspended. The Indian Embassy in Pyongyang and Colin Crooks, the British Ambassador to North Korea, posted on Twitter that "North Korea will temporarily suspend all air and train routes connecting North Korea and China starting from the 31st." The Indian Embassy in Pyongyang added, according to VOA, that "the last flight connecting Pyongyang and Beijing will operate on February 1."

North Korea has already blocked entry by suspending group tour programs for foreigners and visa issuance for foreigners. Foreigners who have already entered are subject to a one-month quarantine.

North Korea took similar measures during the 2003 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), suspending air routes connecting Pyongyang and Beijing and blocking foreign entries.

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