North Korea’s Koryolink cellphone service has not been discontinued, its Egyptian backers told NK News on Thursday, denying reports that the company had stopped service and was “preparing for a full withdrawal from the country.”

“OTMT has not stopped its telecom operation in DPRK as it started prior to any sanctions and is a utility providing vital service to the people and does not fall under UN sanctions,” Noha Fanous, PR & Communications Senior Manager for Orascom Telecom Media and Technology Holding S.A.E (OTMT), told NK News on Thursday.

Fanous added that while OTMT had “deconsolidated the operation of Koryolink, the 75%