US to ban travel to North Korea

Wednesday, 24 Jul, 2017 0

North Korea will be officially off limits to American citizens from the end of August after the US State Department confirmed a travel ban.

The ‘geographical travel restriction’ takes effect in late August and comes after the death of student Otto Warmbier, who fell into a coma while under detention in the country.

"Due to mounting concerns over the serious risk of arrest and long-term detention under North Korea’s system of law enforcement, the secretary has authorised a Geographical Travel Restriction on all US citizen nationals’ use of a passport to travel in, through or to North Korea," department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said.

An exception can be made for those granted a ‘special validation passport’ will be allowed for ‘certain limited humanitarian or other purposes.’

US citizens could potentially be jailed and fined for violating the restriction.

The US administration has for a long time been fearful that US citizens can easily be arrested and used as bargaining chips as political tensions rise with Pyongyang over its nuclear capability.

It is thought about 1,000 Americans visit North Korea annually.

below social share icons

TravelMole Editorial Team

Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.

Holiday Extras is the UK market leader in airport parking, airport hotels, worldwide airport lounges, destination car hire, airport transfers...

The State of Michigan is blessed with the riches of unspoiled nature: the nation’s longest freshwater coastline, lakes that feel like...

Family-owned Olympic Holidays has been arranging holidays to Greece, the Greek islands and Cyprus for more than half century. The company is unrivalled...

Central Florida’s Polk County is conveniently located between Orlando and Tampa, and an easy drive to Central Florida attractions and...

ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES Mabuhay! Welcome to our archipelago of 7,641 islands where there are endless beaches, lively and fashionable cities,...

If you’re thinking of cruising, there’s a very good chance you’re considering a Carnival cruise. Growing since our founding in...

Travel Outlook, the premier hotel call center™ Travel Outlook is an innovative, custom off-site central reservations office (CRO) service that...

Centara Hotels & Resorts is Thailand’s leading hotel operator. Its 93 properties span all major Thai destinations plus the Maldives,...

We are a small-group adventure travel operator offering more than 750 tours in 100 countries, on all seven continents. Our...

Philippine Airlines (PR), also known as PAL, is the Filipino flag carrier. The company started their operations in February 1941,...

Intrepid Travel is a world leader in sustainable experience-rich travel that has been taking travellers to discover the world’s most amazing places...

Hilton is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 22 world-class brands comprising nearly 7,300 properties and more than 1.1 million rooms, in...