North Korea tourism: US to ban Americans from visiting


North Korea tourism: US to ban Americans from visiting


The US State Department currently warns US citizens not to travel to North Korea


The US is to ban its citizens from travelling to North Korea.


State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement that the ban would be published next week in the Federal Register, to come into effect 30 days later.


US officials linked the move to the death of jailed American student Otto Warmbier.

Once the ban is in effect, US citizens will need special validation to travel to or within North Korea.



Mr Warmbier travelled to North Korea with Young Pioneer Tours. He was arrested in 2016 for trying to steal a propaganda sign and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He was returned to the US in a coma in June and died a week later.




How did the news come to light?


Koryo Tours and Young Pioneer Tours, who both operate in North Korea, revealed on Friday that they had been told of the upcoming ban by the Swedish embassy, which acts for the US as Washington has no diplomatic relations with Pyongyang.


Rowan Beard, of Young Pioneer Tours, told the BBC the embassy was urging all US nationals to depart immediately.


He said the embassy was trying to check on the number of US tourists left in the country.

What form will the ban take?


Ms Nauert's statement said: "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 nationals' use of a passport to travelling through, or to North Korea.


"Once in effect, US passports will be invalid for travel to, through, and in North Korea, and individuals will be required to obtain a passport with a special validation in order to travel to or within North Korea.


"We intend to publish a notice in the Federal Register next week.

"The restriction will be implemented 30 days after publication."


Rowan Beard said that the 30-day grace period would "give leeway for any [Americans] currently in the country as tourists or on humanitarian work".


How have the travel agencies reacted?


Simon Cockerell of Koryo Tours told the BBC the agency would still conduct tours and take Americans until the ban came into effect.


Media captionOtto Warmbier, fourth from right, seen shortly before his arrest

"If their country allows them to go, we will take them," he said.


Mr Cockerell added: "It's unfortunate for the industry but also for North Koreans who want to know what Americans are really like."


After the death of Mr Warmbier, the China-based Young Pioneer Tours announced it would no longer take visitors from the US to the country.


Why now?


There has been movement towards a ban for a while in the US, which increased with the Warmbier death.


In May, two congressmen introduced the North Korea Travel Control bill to cut off the foreign currency the country earns from American tourists.




The House foreign affairs subcommittee is scheduled to take up the draft legislation on 27 July but it would still have to go to the Senate. So there could be an executive order.


Apart from the treatment of Americans in North Korea, tension has been increasing over Pyongyang's nuclear programme.


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http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-40680500

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