North Korea closing (even more) to foreigners

The Hermit Kingdom is about to become even more cut off from the world than normal. Pyongyang’s embassy in Beijing has, without explanation, stopped issuing visas to foreigners. South Korean media reports say the travel ban will last from Dec. 20 until early February:

Chosun said some experts believe the North is taking extra security measures before a cross-border visit by Kim, who is known to prefer train travel to flying.

Other analysts speculate the aim is to allow unrest sparked by the country’s shock currency revaluation to die down.

Nighwatch’s John McCreary comments:

In the NightWatch experience, a ban on foreigners has only occurred during semi-war alert conditions as a precaution in a crisis with the UN Command or during a major Allied military exercise; during an internal crisis, such as the revolt in 1995 by the now disbanded Sixth Army Corps; or to control an epidemic.