US Bans Travel to N Korea From 1 Sept, Asks Americans to Return

A ban on travel by US passport holders to North Korea will take effect on 1 September and Americans in the country should leave before that date, the US State Department said on Wednesday.

Journalists and humanitarian workers may apply for exceptions to the ban, the department said in a public notice.

The US government last month said it would bar Americans from travelling to North Korea due to the risk of "long-term detention" there.

The ban comes at a time of heightened tensions between the United States and North Korea, which has been working to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the United States.

Also Read: North Korea Tests Second Missile, Putting US Cities in Range

North Korea will become the only country to which Americans are banned from travelling.

American student Otto Warmbier, sentenced last year to 15 years' hard labor in North Korea, returned to the United States in a coma on 13 June after being released on humanitarian grounds, and died on 19 June. The circumstances surrounding his death are not clear, including why he fell into a coma.

North Korea has said through its state media that Warmbier's death was "a mystery" and dismissed accusations that he had died as a result of torture and beating in captivity.

The State Department issued a notice in the Federal Register on Wednesday declaring US passports invalid for travel to, in or through North Korea. The restriction takes effect in 30 days, and applies for one year unless extended or revoked by the secretary of state.

Also Read: Tensions Escalate: US Says Time For Talk on North Korea ‘is Over’

“Persons currently in North Korea on a US passport should depart North Korea before the travel restriction enters into effect on Friday, 1 September 2017,” the department said in a statement.

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" may ask for a special validation of their passports in order to travel to the country, the State Department said.

North Korea is currently holding two Korean-American academics and a missionary, a Canadian pastor and three South Korean nationals who were doing missionary work. Japan says North Korea has also detained at least several dozens of its nationals.

Also Read: North Korea Can Hit Most of United States, Say US Officials

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