China, North Korea halt border rail crossings over Covid-19 fears

Freight services from Chinese city Dandong suspended on request from North Korea, Yonhap reports
Dandong logged 220 Covid-19 infections between April 24 and April 27

North Korea

Reuters

Published: 7:00pm, 29 Apr, 2022

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China and North Korea have agreed to suspend cross-border goods train services after Covid-19 cases were detected in the Chinese city of Dandong.

This comes less than four months after North Korea eased pandemic-related border lockdowns enforced early in 2020, measures that global aid groups have blamed for its worsening economic woes and risks to food supplies for millions.

“Due to the Covid situation in Dandong, after friendly consultation between both sides, China has decided to suspend freight services from Dandong to Sinuiju,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said in Beijing.

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South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said authorities in Dandong had acted on a request from North Korea, citing unidentified sources.

Authorities in Seoul said they were keeping watch on the situation.

Dandong has been fighting a coronavirus outbreak since last week, reporting 220 infections between April 24 and April 27.

By Wednesday, authorities had locked down 77 residential compounds, while people elsewhere were asked to keep to designated areas.

North Korea has not officially reported any Covid-19 infections since the pandemic began.