BEIJING (Yonhap) – All foreigners visiting North Korea will be put under quarantine for 21 days as a precaution against the spread of the deadly Ebola virus, according to China's commerce ministry on Saturday.

In a brief statement, the Chinese commerce ministry said North Korea has recently notified all diplomatic missions and international agencies in the country that it will quarantine all foreigners entering the North.

Citing North Korea's state emergency anti-epidemic committee, the statement said, "Entry of all foreigners from abroad will be under 21-day quarantine at designated sites and to receive medical observation to prevent the Ebola virus from entering into the country."

The Chinese ministry advised Chinese business travelers to pay "close attention" to North Korea's quarantine measure, according to the statement.

Last week, China-based tour agencies specializing in trips to North Korea said Pyongyang has banned foreign tourists from entering the communist country to prevent an outbreak of Ebola.

In 2003, North Korea closed its borders because of the spread of the SARS virus.

Since the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa, nearly 5,000 people have died from the virus, according to the World Health Organization.