US citizens will be banned from visiting North Korea

[Santander]

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/07/21/538501350/u-s-is-preparing-to-ban-citizens-from-visiting-north-korea-tour-group-says

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[Associate Justice PiT]

     I was surprised when the Warmbier story broke that it was even possible up until now. Sure Dennis Rodman had been doing it, but the rich and famous always have ways of skirting the rules.

[Tintrlvr]

How exactly is this accomplished? I mean, in theory travel to Cuba was banned for a long time, but it was easy enough for Americans to travel to Cuba by hopping over to Canada or the Dominican Republic first. Somehow I doubt there are direct flights to Pyongyang available currently that could be cancelled. How do you prevent Americans from traveling to North Korea through other countries (China, South Korea, etc.)?

[HAnnA MArin County]

Why would any American WANT to visit North Korea in the first place?

[Statilius the Epicurean]

Why would any American WANT to visit North Korea in the first place?

A friend of mine (Australian) went on a guided tour there and loved it.

[Santander]

How exactly is this accomplished? I mean, in theory travel to Cuba was banned for a long time, but it was easy enough for Americans to travel to Cuba by hopping over to Canada or the Dominican Republic first. Somehow I doubt there are direct flights to Pyongyang available currently that could be cancelled. How do you prevent Americans from traveling to North Korea through other countries (China, South Korea, etc.)?

You can't stop them. You can only impose penalties on those who are caught doing it. The State Department can unendorse all ordinary US passports for travel to North Korea, but it is up to North Korea whether it wants to admit them or not, although you need a visa to visit, which makes it different from Cuba.

It will be up to tour operators and airlines to prevent Americans from entering North Korean soil. You can't just get a North Korean visa by applying at the Embassy, you need to be sponsored by a North Korean organization such as a state-owned business or university, or go on an organized tour.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Well, there goes my vacation plans.

[TDAS04]

Oh well. 

[Person Man]

Well, there goes my vacation plans.

[KingSweden]

Well, there goes my vacation plans.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

I'm not comfortable with travel bans effecting American citizens but this seems pretty common sense. Unlike, say, the Cuba ban.

[The Mikado]

Honestly, this is the most sensible thing this Administration has done in a long time, and North Korean tourism only served to put dollars in the DPRK's pocket while giving stupid people poisonous doses of DPRK propaganda.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/07/21/538501350/u-s-is-preparing-to-ban-citizens-from-visiting-north-korea-tour-group-says

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What the ?

[Santander]

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/07/21/538501350/u-s-is-preparing-to-ban-citizens-from-visiting-north-korea-tour-group-says

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What the ?

Young Pioneer Tours is the biggest North Korea travel agency in Beijing. It's run by and for Westerners, so they're usually aware of policy changes like this before they are made officially public.

[Coraxion]

Well, there goes my vacation plans.

[Person Man]

Well, there goes my vacation plans.

But seriously. That's the worst kind of discrimination! - Discrimination against me! But fine. I am going to make my own North Korea with Blackjack and hookers! In fact, forget the blackjack!

[EnglishPete]

Why would any American WANT to visit North Korea in the first place?

A friend of mine (Australian) went on a guided tour there and loved it.

I wouldn't recommend he return anytime soon. Remember the bombing of the Syrian airfield that happened without prior warning whilst the Chinese were visiting Trump. I think that was done specifically whilst the Chinese were there (at dinner no less) as a form of warning about North Korea. Any bombardment of North Korea will happen without prior notice or warning. Also the threat of retaliation will mean that the bombardment cannot be limited but will have to be overwhelming. This would then force the Chinese to step in and install a new government there in order to avoid a massive refugee crisis in their North east provinces.

However whilst NK, or the rest of the world won't have warning of the bombing before it starts I imagine Trump will probably want to make sure that there are no US citizens in the country when the bombardment starts. I think that's the reason this ban has been issued.

[Oswald Acted Alone, You Kook]

This won't be happening anytime soon.

[Badger]

Probably for the best.