Residents of Pyongyang, North Korea, are walking in front of Pyongyang Station wearing masks to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) on the 27th of last month. (Photo by Yonhap News)
[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Mewon] The British embassy in North Korea has temporarily suspended its operations, and all British diplomats and their families are reported to have left Pyongyang.
TASS news agency, which has a bureau in Pyongyang, reported on the 27th (local time) that the British diplomatic mission has been closed, attributing this to North Korean authorities' quarantine measures related to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
According to the agency, from that day onward, the British flag was no longer raised on the flagpole in front of the embassy, and vehicles with diplomatic license plates also left the embassy.
British diplomats reportedly traveled by car to Dandong, a Chinese border city, where they will undergo a two-week self-quarantine period before returning to London, UK.
Previously, diplomatic missions from Germany, France, Switzerland, and others stationed in Pyongyang had already suspended operations in March.
North Korea closed all regular international flights in early February to block the entry of COVID-19 and also suspended railway operations connecting to China and Russia.
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