x

North Korea cancels marathon over coronavirus

North Korea has cancelled the Pyongyang Marathon — its biggest tourist money-spinner of the year — because of the novel coronavirus outbreak, tour companies said Friday.

Beijing-based Koryo Tours, the official partner of the marathon, said on its website it had “received official confirmation today that the Pyongyang Marathon 2020 is cancelled”.

“This is due to the ongoing closure of the North Korean border and COVID-19 virus situation in China and the greater region,” it added.

Young Pioneer Tours, which specialises in budget trips to the isolated country, issued a similar statement.

The annual marathon is held in April as part of the anniversary commemorations for founder Kim Il Sung’s birth in 1912 and attracts curious foreigners eager to run through the streets of the tightly controlled city.

Almost 1,000 Westerners took part last year, according to organisers, paying entry fees of up to $150 to do so.

North Korea has put itself into self-imposed isolation to protect itself from the outbreak raging in neighbouring China, which has infected more than 75,000 people and killed over 2,200.

Pyongyang has suspended flights and train services, banned tourists, and imposed 30 days of quarantine on resident foreigners.

North Korea is subject to multiple international sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes and its medical infrastructure is weak, with chronic shortages of medicines and equipment.

As a result, an outbreak would wreak havoc, analysts say.

It has taken similar measures before: it banned tourists for more than four months from October 2014 to keep out the Ebola virus, even though no cases had been reported in Asia.

North Korea clamped down for six months during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome outbreak of 2002-03, which killed nearly 650 people across mainland China and Hong Kong.

Hot this week

Editors Urge Government To Create Safe, Enabling Environment For Journalists

· Ask security agents to find missing Vanguard journalist As...

EXCLUSIVE: Buhari orders probe of Isa Funtua, AMCON over keystone and Etisalat

Following the controversy generated by the leading opposition party,...

6 Signs your boyfriend thinks you are ugly -Take note of No. 2

They say there are three kinds of people; the...

2023: South-East, Middle Belt Forum Endorses Peter Obi

The South-East and Middle Belt Forum has endorsed the...

One dies, many injured in Abuja demolition

By Joyce Babayeju *Council chairman decribes demolition as illegal, says...

World Bank School Funds Misappropriated: Two Adamawa Officials Arraigned

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission...

Sokoto PHC, UNICEF Hold Nutrition Strategy Validation Meeting

By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto The Sokoto State Primary Health Care...

2027: Seven Hausa States Caution Tinubu Against Dropping VP Shettima

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna Seven states in Northern Nigeria with...

BIPC GMD: We’re Diversifying Benue’s Economy Through Macro Businesses

By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi The Group Managing Director (GMD) of...

Kogi Govt Defends Arrest Over Defamation, Says Due Process Followed

By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja The Kogi State Government has dismissed...

Kaduna: Five Small Tomatoes Now N500, As Prices of Onions, Peppers Soar

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna Despite a recent drop in fuel...

Navy Offers Free Medical Services to 1,500 in Plateau

By Israel Adamu, Jos The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img