U.S. bans travel to North Korea from 1st of September

August 3, 2017

Itunuoluwa

The United States Department has said Wednesday that the travel ban on U.S. passport holders to North Korea will take effect on Sept. 1 and that Americans in the country should also leave before that date, Reuters reports.

The ban comes amid heightening tensions between the United States and North Korea, which has claimed it has an Intercontinental ballistic missile that is capable of hitting the United States. North Korea will become the only country to which Americans are banned from traveling.

Following the tragic circumstances surrounding the death of American student Otto Warmbier, who was sentenced last year to 15 years’ hard labor in North Korea, returned to the United States in a coma on June 13 after being released and died June 19. Last month, the U.S. government said it would bar Americans from traveling to North Korea due to the risk of “long-term detention” there.

The North has denied accusation that it had anything or any knowledge of what caused Warmbier to fall into coma and losing his major senses, calling it a “mystery”.

The restriction takes effect in 30 days, and applies for a year unless extended or revoked by the secretary of state.

According to Reuters, Professional reporters or journalists, representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross or the American Red Cross traveling on official missions, those traveling to North Korea for “compelling humanitarian considerations” and those whose requests are “in the national interest” are required to ask for a special validation of their passports before they can be allowed to travel to the country, the State Department said.

Itunuoluwa

Tags: ballistic missile, North Korea, North Korea travel ban, Otto Warmbier, united states