North Korea bans foreign children in restaurants and shops to combat COVID-19 | NK News
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September 29, 2026Sep 29, 2026

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COVID-19

North Korea bans foreign children in restaurants and shops to combat COVID-19

The new rule is the latest in a long series of pandemic prevention measures, despite Pyongyang claiming to be virus-free

North Korea has banned the children of foreign diplomats and humanitarian workers from visiting restaurants and shops, sources confirmed to NK News on Friday.

The ruling is the latest in a series of increasingly severe restrictions on the shrinking ex-pat community in Pyongyang, apparently implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Few diplomats remain in North Korea with their children because the foreign community has shrunk so much over the last year. But there are still several husband-and-wife couples with children working at the Russian Embassy, the largest in Pyongyang, an informed source told NK News.

Since the Chinese