The U.S. has updated its travel advisory for North Korea, warning Americans not to travel the country under any circumstances.
The revised advisory cited a continuing serious risk of arrest, long-term detention and the threat of wrongful detention, expanding on earlier language that emphasized similar dangers.
Newsweek has contacted the U.S. Department of State and the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang for comment via email.
Why It Matters
There is no U.S. diplomatic presence in Pyongyang, with Sweden serving as the U.S. protecting power in North Korea through its embassy. Still, the advisory warned, “North Korean government has often delayed or denied Swedish officials access to U.S. citizens who are detained.”
The State Department also said, “The Government of the North Korea has subjected U.S. citizens to arbitrary entry and exit bans, expulsions, arrests, and other actions. The U.S. government cannot guarantee your release.”
What To Know
The U.S. Department of State has long classed North Korea in its fourth advisory level: “Do not travel.” However, its advice to Americans previously said, “Exercise increased caution to North Korea due to the critical threat of wrongful detention,” according to an archived version of the page.
As of April 29, the advisory was updated to replace that sentence, which now says, “Do not travel to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for any reason.”
The new advisory maintains that U.S. passports, unless specially validated for North Korea travel by the secretary of state, cannot be used to travel into, within or through the country.
The Federal Aviation Administration has also issued a notice to airmen (NOTAM) in relation to the advisory. A NOTAM is an immediate safety message to alert pilots and other flight-operations personnel of hazards, changes or restrictions in the National Airspace System.
“This is due to the risks to civil aviation operating within or in the vicinity of North Korea,” the updated advisory said.
What People Are Saying
The State Department’s travel advisory said: “Do not travel to North Korea due to the continuing serious risk of arrest, long-term detention, and the threat of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals. Do not travel to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for any reason. … Because the U.S. government does not have diplomatic relations with North Korea, it cannot provide direct help to U.S. citizens in North Korea in emergencies.”
What Happens Next
The continued enforcement of the travel ban reflects ongoing concerns about the nation’s treatment of foreign nationals.
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