Cross-border freight trains between North Korea and China have been suspended following the detection of a number of COVID-19 infections in the Chinese border town of Dandong, Yonhap news agency reported on Friday, Reuters reported.
The news was also confirmed by the representative of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zhao Lijian.
Dandong authorities acted at the request of North Korea, the agency said, citing unknown sources. The suspension comes less than four months after North Korea eased its long-standing anti-coronary border padlock that began in early 2020.
International aid groups say the severe embargoes have exacerbated financial problems and threatened to supply millions of people in North Korea with food. Authorities in Seoul said they were monitoring the situation.
“The government is closely monitoring possible changes in the relevant moves following the COVID-19 outbreak in the Dandong area,” said an official from the Ministry of Integration, which is in charge of handling relations between the two countries.
As of Wednesday, Dandong had blocked 77 housing estates, while citizens in other parts of the city were asked to stay within designated areas.
The Chinese city reported 220 infections from April 24 to 27.
Source: Capital
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