Foreign delegations visit N. Korea following reports of entry ban

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's state media have recently reported the arrival of two foreign delegations in Pyongyang following a Japanese news report that foreigners would be banned from entering the country ahead of an "important announcement" by Pyongyang.

Sankei Shimbun, citing an unnamed official at Japan's Defense Ministry, said on
Sunday the North Korean government has ordered its diplomats overseas to stay in
place for an important announcement that may come on Monday and will ban entry of
foreigners starting that day.
The day passed, however, without any announcement from Pyongyang.
Seoul has said no significant movements had been detected in North Korea.
Despite reports of a travel ban on foreigners, the North's official Korean
Central News Agency reported on Monday that a delegation from Myanmar's Ministry
of Sports led by Minister Aye Myint arrived in Pyongyang.
The news agency also reported on the same day that a government delegation from
Namibia led by Foreign Minister Marco Hausiku arrived in Pyongyang and met with
the North's Foreign Minister Pak Ui-chun.
sshim@yna.co.kr
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