China, N.Korea halt border rail crossing over COVID fears

By Yew Lun Tian and Soo-hyang Choi

BEIJING/SEOUL (Reuters) -China has suspended cross-border freight prepare companies with North Korea following consultations after COVID-19 infections in its border metropolis of Dandong, the overseas ministry stated on Friday.

The suspension got here inside 4 months after North Korea eased border lockdowns enforced early in 2020 towards the coronavirus, measures international help teams have blamed for its worsening financial woes and dangers to meals provides for thousands and thousands.

“As a result of COVID state of affairs in Dandong, after pleasant session between each side, China has determined to droop freight companies from Dandong to Sinuiju,” overseas ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian advised a each day briefing in Beijing.

South Korea’s Yonhap information company stated authorities in Dandong had acted on a request from North Korea, citing unidentified sources.

Authorities in Seoul, the capital of neighbouring South Korea, stated they had been preserving watch on the state of affairs.

The Chinese language metropolis of Dandong has been combating a COVID-19 outbreak since late April, reporting 220 infections from April 24 to April 27.

By Wednesday, authorities had locked down 77 residential compounds, whereas individuals elsewhere had been requested to maintain to designated areas.

North Korea has not formally reported any COVID-19 infections because the pandemic started, however adopted border curbs amongst its anti-virus measures.

(Reporting by Yew Lun Tian in Beijing and Soo-hyang Choi in Seoul; Extra reporting by Albee Zhang; Modifying by Simon Cameron-Moore and Clarence Fernandez)