Russian leader Vladimir Putin has tightened visa requirements for foreign nationals visiting Russia from “unfriendly” countries, appearing to dash whatever hope was left for a route through the country’s Far East to Pyongyang once pandemic-era restrictions ease.

The order, which went into effect Monday, undoes simplified visa procedures for officials and journalists from European Union member states plus Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Lichtenstein. 

Although the new visa rules target European nations, Putin also ordered the country’s foreign ministry to impose personal restrictions on foreigners it deems to have committed “unfriendly actions” against Russia — potentially providing the pretext to