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Coronavirus: Foreigners leave N Korea on first commercial flight for weeks | Coronavirus: Foreigners leave N Korea on first commercial flight for weeks |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Around 60 foreigners who were quarantined for weeks in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, have finally left the country. | Around 60 foreigners who were quarantined for weeks in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, have finally left the country. |
The Air Koryo flight to Vladivostok is the first commercial flight to leave North Korea in over a month, said specialist news site NK News. | The Air Koryo flight to Vladivostok is the first commercial flight to leave North Korea in over a month, said specialist news site NK News. |
Flight KOR271 landed in the far-eastern Russian city on Monday morning. | Flight KOR271 landed in the far-eastern Russian city on Monday morning. |
The embassy staff who left had been confined to their compounds for weeks during February and early March. | The embassy staff who left had been confined to their compounds for weeks during February and early March. |
North Korea quarantined hundreds of foreigners in the capital in an attempt to stop the coronavirus from breaking out. | North Korea quarantined hundreds of foreigners in the capital in an attempt to stop the coronavirus from breaking out. |
Russian ambassador Alexander Matsegora described the conditions as "morally crushing". | Russian ambassador Alexander Matsegora described the conditions as "morally crushing". |
There have been no reported cases of coronavirus in North Korea, though some experts have cast doubt on this. | There have been no reported cases of coronavirus in North Korea, though some experts have cast doubt on this. |
North Korea borders China, where the virus emerged, and South Korea, where there has been a major outbreak. | North Korea borders China, where the virus emerged, and South Korea, where there has been a major outbreak. |
Flight KOR271 left Pyongyang at 08:40 local time on Monday (23:40 on Sunday) and arrived in Vladivostok at 10:47, said flight tracking site FlightAware. | Flight KOR271 left Pyongyang at 08:40 local time on Monday (23:40 on Sunday) and arrived in Vladivostok at 10:47, said flight tracking site FlightAware. |
At least 60 diplomats and embassy staff were thought to be on the flight. It's not known how or when they will return to their home countries. | At least 60 diplomats and embassy staff were thought to be on the flight. It's not known how or when they will return to their home countries. |
The British ambassador to North Korea tweeted early on Monday that he was "sad to say farewell to colleagues from [the] Germany Embassy and French Office". | The British ambassador to North Korea tweeted early on Monday that he was "sad to say farewell to colleagues from [the] Germany Embassy and French Office". |
Colin Crooks added that other embassies were closing temporarily but that the British embassy would remain open. | Colin Crooks added that other embassies were closing temporarily but that the British embassy would remain open. |
North Korea had previously quarantined around 380 foreigners - mostly diplomats and staff in Pyongyang - in their compounds for at least 30 days. | North Korea had previously quarantined around 380 foreigners - mostly diplomats and staff in Pyongyang - in their compounds for at least 30 days. |
It lifted the restrictions last week after more than a month. | It lifted the restrictions last week after more than a month. |
Swedish ambassador Joachim Bergstrom reacted by tweeting a selfie with the caption: "I have never been happier standing on Kim ll Sung Square." | |
However, foreigners' interactions with locals were still restricted, said NK News, as they were not allowed to visit restaurants, shops, gyms and hotels in the city. | However, foreigners' interactions with locals were still restricted, said NK News, as they were not allowed to visit restaurants, shops, gyms and hotels in the city. |
There are concerns that North Korea, which is subject to international sanctions, lacks the health infrastructure to test and treat those infected. | There are concerns that North Korea, which is subject to international sanctions, lacks the health infrastructure to test and treat those infected. |
The number of infections worldwide is more than 107,000, with about 3,600 deaths. | The number of infections worldwide is more than 107,000, with about 3,600 deaths. |