We are getting word from multiple sources that non-essential access to North Korea seems to be shutting down.  My own visa application for a visit in late October was denied a few days ago.

Starting from November until the end of the year, very few visitors will be allowed according to sources involved with my visa processing.

Another source reports that during a visit last week, Pyongyang appeared devoid of any visitors

Something seems to be stirring inside the DPRK.  Whether this is some sort of power struggle or something less dramatic is hard to tell at this point.  However, there are some signs of upcoming news to come:

North Korea has ordered its diplomats overseas to get ready for an “important announcement” that may be related to the health of its reclusive leader Kim Jong-Il, a Japanese newspaper (Yomiuri Shimbun) said Saturday.  - AFP article