The United States is taking active measures to ensure the safety of Americans who intend to travel to North Korea, and they come in the form of a travel ban. The policy, which will be published in the Federal Register on July 27 and become official 30 days later, restricts the “use of a passport to travel in, through, or to North Korea,” according to Heather Nauert, the spokeswoman of the State Department.
The State Department added, though, that special passports will be available for application for any who intend to travel for “certain limited humanitarian or other purposes”.
News of the ban comes just over a month after the death of Otto Warmbier, who returned from a North Korean prison in a coma and died shortly after. Warmbier was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in January of 2016 after allegedly stealing political propaganda from a hotel. The State Department explains that the ban is in reaction to the “mounting concerns over the serious risk of arrest and long term detention.”
Similar bans have been put into effect in the past, prohibiting citizens to visit Lebanon, Sudan, Cuba, and North Vietnam. Though this most recent ban has not been met with overwhelming criticism, there are some who believe that it is not the appropriate way to deal with the dangers that come with visiting North Korea. The general manager of Koryo, a travel company that organizes trips to North Korea, spoke out against the ban, stating, “It’s unfortunate because we criticize North Korea for being isolationist and now we’re helping isolate them. That’s not what soft power is about.”
Additionally, Michael Hurt, an American professor in Seoul, expressed his disappointment in the ban, as it would impact his plans of an academic trip to the Pyonyang Autumn Fashion Festival. Hurt explained, “I’m obviously very disappointed that real work, actual engagement done by people interested in going in a way not related to irresponsible, frat boy antics can’t happen now. Because of the exceptionally stupid few, those doing real work, decent work can’t get their work done.
The ban is not expected to make a meaningful economic impact, as only around 100,000 tourists visit the country each year, 95% of them being Chinese. Only about 1,000 Americans visit North Korea each year.
