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.
