North Korea suspends visits from Chinese tourists ahead of 70th anniversary of founding of republic
Chinese travel agents told ‘state decision’ means visits must be halted this month, according to South Korean media
North Korea will suspend Chinese tour group visits ahead of a high profile anniversary next month, South Korean media reported on Saturday.
The North’s Korea International Youth Travel Agency told a Chinese tourist agency that hotels in Pyongyang would be closed for renovations for 20 days starting on Saturday.
Another North Korean travel agency informed their Chinese partner that an unspecified “state decision” meant they had to stop receiving Chinese tour group package travellers until September 5, the reports said.
North Korea has in the past restricted entry to foreign tourists as the country prepares for significant events, giving a variety of reasons for the moves, Yonhap reported.
The latest measures come as the North prepares to mark the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the government.
In his new year speech in January, leader Kim Jong-un said the North Korean people would “greet the 70th founding anniversary of their republic as a great, auspicious event”.