United States: Passports invalid for travel to North Korea September 1 /update 1

Event

The United States Department of State confirmed on Wednesday, August 2, that new restrictions on traveling to North Korea will come into force on Friday, September 1. Under the new restrictions, US passports will be invalid for travel to, through, and in North Korea. US citizens will be required to apply for a special validation passport if they intend to visit the country for limited humanitarian trips or other purposes. Additionally, authorities have urged all US citizens to depart North Korea by the end of August.

Context

According to the State Department, the new restrictions have been put in place due to rising concerns of the serious risk of arrest and long-term detention of US citizens in North Korea. On June 13, North Korea released United States student Otto Warmbier on humanitarian grounds. Warmbier was sentenced in January 2016 to 15 years of hard labor in North Korea after being charged with anti-DPRK activities during his stay in Pyongyang. He was convicted of trying to steal a propaganda poster, to which he confessed in a tearful confession that many believe was forced, admitting that his aim “was to harm the motivation and work ethic of the Korean people.” North Korea said he had contracted botulism and fallen ill shortly after beginning his sentence of hard labor in March 2016, and US officials were informed shortly before his release that he had spent the past year in a coma. Warmbier died on June 19 after returning to the US.

Advice

Impacted travelers are advised to monitor the situation and to comply with all official regulations.

As a reminder, travel within North Korea is severely restricted for all foreign nationals. Whether visiting on business or as a tourist, tourists will almost always be accompanied by a guide, and tours will be restricted to sanctioned areas.