13 September, 2017
Foreign-supported educational centers in North Korea are reducing their activities as more governments strengthen travel warnings for the country.
The United States recently banned most travel by Americans to North Korea. North Korea also remains under a series of United Nations Security Council restrictions. South Korea, the U.S. and other nations have also placed their own restrictions on the North because of its nuclear and missile testing activities.
Britain also has announced additional travel warnings for its citizens, which have affected education links with North Korea.
A spokesperson for the British Council told VOA, "The British Council suspended the English language teaching program in Pyongyang when the travel advice from the U.K. (British) government changed."
The Council added that it is delaying talks on extending its program in North Korea.
The British Council has operated the English Language Teacher Training Program (ELT program) since May of 2000. That year, Britain established diplomatic relations with North Korea to support "critical engagement" with the country. The effort was aimed at reducing the country's isolation through educational and cultural exchanges.
The Council has trained more than 4,000 English teachers in Pyongyang.
Four teachers were involved in the suspended program.
The Council made its decision because the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office increased its travel warning for North Korea on September 3.
The office "advises against all but essential travel to North Korea."
It adds, "There remains a threat of further missile or nuclear tests, which could lead to further instability in the region."
On September 1, the United States banned most travel by its citizens to North Korea.
That ban already may have affect education links to North Korea.
Last week Pyongyang University of Science and Technology released a statement. The university, known as PUST, said classes had been "adapted to suit the available resources."
PUST is a private university that is supported mostly by Western, Christian groups. It educates the children of ruling families in North Korea.
Sixty to 80 foreign professors work at the university during each semester. A university statement says about half of them have U.S. passports.
The university did not say how many American teachers will be affected by the U.S. travel ban. PUST noted it expects that additional teachers will join during this fall learning period.
However, some of the university's teaching activities seem to have been restricted. One professor at PUST told VOA that only North Korean professors teach classes in dentistry this fall. The professor said the U.S. measure is affecting not only American citizens but other foreign nationals.
The professor asked not to be identified.
Another PUST employee, who asked not to be identified, said he would not be returning to Pyongyang this fall. The employee said the aid agency that organizes the teaching trips decided not to send anyone to the school at this time.
The U.S. State Department first announced the travel ban in July after North Korea tested two long-distance missiles. It warned of growing concerns over "the serious risk of arrest and long-term detention" to Americans traveling to and within North Korea.
The ban permits exceptions for some humanitarian or other special purposes, although they require approval.
I'm Mario Ritter.
Kim Hyunjin reported this story for VOA News with contributions from Jenny Lee. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.
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Words in This Story
engagement –n. the state of being involved with something
isolation –n. to be separated from other, to be alone
essential –adj. the most important and necessary
instability –n. easily changed or likely to be changed
region –n a part of a country or of the world
adapt –v. to change in order to better deal with a place or situation
suit –v. to provide something needed, to be suitable
evangelical –adj. relating to a Christian group who stress the importance of Biblical writings and preach those beliefs
faculty –n. teachers at a school, college or university