North Korea looks to hold 'Mass Games' this year despite coronavirus fears - tour companies

FILE PHOTO: Participants perform around a globe highlighting Korean peninsula at Mass Games in May Day stadium marking the 70th anniversary of North Korea's foundation in Pyongyang, North Korea, September 9, 2018. Picture taken September 9, 2018. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

SEOUL (Reuters) - Despite North Korea's ban on foreign tourism over coronavirus fears, the isolated nation has announced plans to stage its "Mass Games", featuring thousands of dancers, gymnasts and singers, as soon as August, tour companies said on Tuesday.

North Korea has no confirmed virus cases, but it stopped flights and train services with its neighbours, set up month-long mandatory quarantines, suspended tourism, and imposed a near-complete lockdown on cross-border travel.