Pyongyang: North Korea on Tuesday lifted its strict travel restrictions on people entering the country, a measure taken to prevent the deadly ebola virus from spreading. Although no cases of ebola have been reported in countries near North Korea, Pyongyang had closed its borders to foreign tourists and imposed a strict 21-day quarantine on all people, including diplomats, entering the country since October 24, Yonhap News Agency reported. North Korea’s state-run airline, Air Koryo said that North Korea’s travel restrictions were lifted as of Monday.
However, visitors from Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and their neighbouring countries including Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Mali and Cote d’Ivoire are still required to be quarantined at designated places and receive medical observation for 21 days. Also out of fears of ebola, foreigners are reportedly banned from participating in this year’s Pyongyang Marathon, an annual event that takes place in April. It is not the first time that North Korea has closed its borders because of a deadly disease. In 2003, the North Korea closed its borders for several months due to the spread of the SARS virus.
