North Korea, which has banned foreign tourists from visiting the isolated country since last October due to fears over the spread of the deadly Ebola virus, may open its borders to foreigners on April 1, according to a China-based tour firm specializing in tours to the North on Thursday.
  

Although no cases of Ebola have been reported in countries near North Korea, the Pyongyang regime has closed its borders to foreign tourists and imposed a strict 21-day quarantine on all people, including diplomats, entering the country.
  

Two China-based tour firms that specialize in tours to North Korea, Young Pioneer Tours and Koryo Tours, said earlier this week that the North barred foreigners from taking part in an international marathon race, set to be held in Pyongyang on April 12, because of Ebola fears.
  

However, Young Pioneer Tours said in a separate statement that North Korea may be ready to open up its borders on April 1.
  

"There are very strong rumors coming from both in and outside the country, from both our contacts and the contacts of other companies, that the country will again be open to tourists from April 1, 2015," the statement said.
  

"We feel this information to be reliable, and are very much planning business as usual from this date," it said.
  

North Korea's frantic measures against Ebola appear to highlight concerns by the Pyongyang regime that Ebola could pose a direct threat to the regime's survival if the virus crossed into the North, South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers this week.
  

It is not the first time that North Korea has closed its borders because of a deadly disease. In 2003, the North closed its borders for several months due to the spread of the SARS virus. (Yonhap)North Korea, which has banned foreign tourists from visiting the isolated country since last October due to fears over the spread of the deadly Ebola virus, may open its borders to foreigners on April 1, according to a China-based tour firm specializing in tours to the North on Thursday.
  

Although no cases of Ebola have been reported in countries near North Korea, the Pyongyang regime has closed its borders to foreign tourists and imposed a strict 21-day quarantine on all people, including diplomats, entering the country.
  

Two China-based tour firms that specialize in tours to North Korea, Young Pioneer Tours and Koryo Tours, said earlier this week that the North barred foreigners from taking part in an international marathon race, set to be held in Pyongyang on April 12, because of Ebola fears.
  

However, Young Pioneer Tours said in a separate statement that North Korea may be ready to open up its borders on April 1.
  

"There are very strong rumors coming from both in and outside the country, from both our contacts and the contacts of other companies, that the country will again be open to tourists from April 1, 2015," the statement said.
  

"We feel this information to be reliable, and are very much planning business as usual from this date," it said.
  

North Korea's frantic measures against Ebola appear to highlight concerns by the Pyongyang regime that Ebola could pose a direct threat to the regime's survival if the virus crossed into the North, South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers this week.
  

It is not the first time that North Korea has closed its borders because of a deadly disease. In 2003, the North closed its borders for several months due to the spread of the SARS virus. (Yonhap)