The Trump Administration today announced plans to ban its citizens from travelling to North Korea, attributing it to the serious risk of arrest and long-term detention of Americans in the reclusive nation.
The move comes following the death of university student Otto Warmbier, who was returned to the US. In a coma after spending time in a North Korean prison.
A federal notification is scheduled to be published next week and new travel restrictions could come into place 30 days after that.
“The safety and security of US citizens overseas is one of our highest priorities,” State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert 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 (of State) has authorised a Geographical Travel Restriction on all US citizen nationals’ use of a passport to travel in, through, or to North Korea,” Nauert said.