North Korea closes border to tourists ahead of major nationalist anniversary
North Korea has nixed all tourist visa applications for travel for the next two weeks due to an unspecified ‘state decision.’
That seems to be for a major anniversary being celebrated next month – the 70th anniversary of the founding of the country.
Koryo Tours, a tour agency popular with foreign visitors to North Korea, said it was ‘informed by our partners in Pyongyang that they had been instructed that all tourist visa applications currently underway are to be frozen.’
The freeze applies until after the anniversary in early September.
News reports said Pyongyang instructed all hotels to close ‘for renovations for 20 days’ from the weekend.
The short term ban is primarily aimed at Chinese tour groups which have surged in recent weeks due to the apparent thawing of relations with the West.
Up to 2,000 visitors a day have been streaming over the border.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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