N. Korea to bar foreign entry due to Ebola fear

BEIJING, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- North Korea has barred entry to international tourists because of the threat of importation of the Ebola virus, two Beijing travel agencies said.

Spokesmen for the agencies, whose focus is on travel to North Korea, said their "partners in Pyongyang" informed them foreign tourists will be denied entry beginning Friday, specifically mentioning the risk of Ebola, CNN reported Thursday. It was not clear if the ban applied to business or diplomatic visitors.

North Korean state media said Thursday quarantine measures at ports, airports and borders would be increased, making no mention of a prohibition. An official was quoted by the Korean Central TV station as urging "responsible medical checkups" of North Koreans returning from West Africa, the area hardest-hit by the outbreak of the Ebola virus.

Rodong Sinmun, North Korea's state-run newspaper, also presented an article on the Ebola virus and its spread.