North Korea has suspended tourist visits until further notice, the BBC reports, Focus reports. This comes just weeks after the first Western tourists were allowed into the country for the first time in five years.
After isolating itself at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, North Korea began to gradually lift restrictions in 2023. In 2024, the country opened its borders to Russian visitors, and last month allowed Western tourists to visit the eastern city of Rason - a special economic zone where new financial policies are being tested.
Travel to North Korea has now been suspended again until further notice, with Pyongyang giving no reason for the sudden decision.
In 2019 the country was visited by nearly 350,000 foreign tourists.