Problems encountered by people trying to phone North Korea from various nations in recent weeks, including by those who work with the country, may have been related to security surrounding the visit of Russian leader Vladimir Putin to Pyongyang last week, experts told NK News. 

Phone calls made from countries in Europe and the Middle East, including the U.K., Germany and the UAE, as well as calls from telecommunications apps like Skype, appeared unable to reach North Korea from around June 7 until June 24, but issues may have started earlier.