Sanctions Force North Korea To Cancel Wonsan Air Show

North Korea has cancelled this year's Wonsan Air Show, ahead of tightened travel restrictions by several countries due to nuclear tensions with Pyongyang.

The first-ever Wonsan International Friendship Air Festival was held in September last year, attracting hundreds of foreigners as the isolated North showcased a line-up of civilian and military aircraft.

The event had been planned to take place every two years, but North Korea said in March the first was so successful that it was bringing forward the second edition.

But the gathering, scheduled for late September, was cancelled by the North Korean Preparatory Committee due to "current geopolitical circumstances", NK News reported Monday, citing an e-mail from the organisers.

A US travel ban issued following the June death of US student Otto Warmbier, who was released in a coma after being held by Pyongyang for more than a year, will come into effect on Friday. Britain updated its advice at the weekend to urge its citizens against "all but essential travel".

Last month Pyongyang tested two intercontinental ballistic missiles that appeared to bring much of the US mainland into range.

Oil is not currently subject to sanctions but fuel prices jumped in Pyongyang earlier this year, prompting suggestions that the rise was driven by a fear of restrictions being imposed.

Specialist tour agencies which had scheduled trips to the air show said they had cancelled them. "We have indeed been informed that the Wonsan Air Festival has been cancelled," Stefan Goossens, a tour organiser at Netherland-based 4Aviation, said.