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Despite Arrests, Americans Continue to Visit North Korea Despite Arrests, Americans Continue to Visit North Korea
(about 3 hours later)
The State Department has long advised Americans to avoid North Korea, but every year hundreds visit. Not all of those get to leave.The State Department has long advised Americans to avoid North Korea, but every year hundreds visit. Not all of those get to leave.
The announcement Sunday that a man identified as Kim Hak-song had been arrested brings the total to four American citizens now held in North Korea. At a time when tensions on the Korean Peninsula have been elevated by North Korea’s missile launches, a potential nuclear test and threats of armed conflict, the detentions add another complication.The announcement Sunday that a man identified as Kim Hak-song had been arrested brings the total to four American citizens now held in North Korea. At a time when tensions on the Korean Peninsula have been elevated by North Korea’s missile launches, a potential nuclear test and threats of armed conflict, the detentions add another complication.
So why do any Americans visit North Korea?So why do any Americans visit North Korea?
Most are tourists intrigued by a destination far different from the usual itineraries. They are willing to overlook warnings that have grown increasingly strident.Most are tourists intrigued by a destination far different from the usual itineraries. They are willing to overlook warnings that have grown increasingly strident.
The State Department “strongly urges U.S. citizens to avoid all travel to North Korea,” reads the boldface type at the top of the most recent warning, “due to the serious risk of arrest and long-term detention under North Korea’s system of law enforcement.” The State Department updated its travel advisory on Tuesday with a more forceful admonishment for American citizens to avoid North Korea, replacing the language “strongly urges” with “strongly warns.” The danger, the advisory continues, is “the serious risk of arrest and long-term detention under North Korea’s system of law enforcement.”
The State Department does not keep records on how many Americans visit North Korea. Of the 4,000 to 5,000 Western tourists who visit each year, about 20 percent come from the United States, said Simon Cockerell, general manager of Koryo Tours, a travel company in Beijing.The State Department does not keep records on how many Americans visit North Korea. Of the 4,000 to 5,000 Western tourists who visit each year, about 20 percent come from the United States, said Simon Cockerell, general manager of Koryo Tours, a travel company in Beijing.
Most have a sense of the potential risks, he said.Most have a sense of the potential risks, he said.
“I think people who go there know it’s not the sort of place where you just show up,” Mr. Cockerell said. “It’s people who look into it. We rightly assume people who go have knowledge of North Korea, who are doing reading about what kind of place it is.”“I think people who go there know it’s not the sort of place where you just show up,” Mr. Cockerell said. “It’s people who look into it. We rightly assume people who go have knowledge of North Korea, who are doing reading about what kind of place it is.”
Acts that are not criminal or would result in light punishments elsewhere can lead to severe sentences in North Korea. A University of Virginia student, Otto F. Warmbier, was arrested at the end of a trip in January 2016. He was sentenced to 15 years’ hard labor for trying to steal a propaganda poster.Acts that are not criminal or would result in light punishments elsewhere can lead to severe sentences in North Korea. A University of Virginia student, Otto F. Warmbier, was arrested at the end of a trip in January 2016. He was sentenced to 15 years’ hard labor for trying to steal a propaganda poster.
Since the 2009 arrests of two journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling, for what the North Koreans called illegal entry into the country, at least 14 Americans have been held by North Korea. The two most recent detainees, Kim Hak-song and Kim Sang-duk — who is also known as Tony Kim — are Korean-Americans who worked for the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology. The private university was founded with money from Christian evangelicals and offers English-based teaching for North Korean elites.Since the 2009 arrests of two journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling, for what the North Koreans called illegal entry into the country, at least 14 Americans have been held by North Korea. The two most recent detainees, Kim Hak-song and Kim Sang-duk — who is also known as Tony Kim — are Korean-Americans who worked for the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology. The private university was founded with money from Christian evangelicals and offers English-based teaching for North Korean elites.
While no exact figure is available, the number of Americans doing business in North Korea is small because of the risk of violating sanctions against the country. Representatives of nonprofit groups once made up a significant part of the Americans in North Korea, but their numbers have declined sharply as aid organizations have been forced to curtail operations.While no exact figure is available, the number of Americans doing business in North Korea is small because of the risk of violating sanctions against the country. Representatives of nonprofit groups once made up a significant part of the Americans in North Korea, but their numbers have declined sharply as aid organizations have been forced to curtail operations.
“The overall number of Americans in North Korea at any one time is down compared to years past,” said Keith Luse, executive director of the National Committee on North Korea, a nonprofit group that researches relations between the United States and North Korea.“The overall number of Americans in North Korea at any one time is down compared to years past,” said Keith Luse, executive director of the National Committee on North Korea, a nonprofit group that researches relations between the United States and North Korea.
“For example, today there is no U.S.-funded food assistance and accompanying monitors,” he said by email. “Plus, sanctions have had an impact on overall operating conditions for U.S. and other humanitarian N.G.O.s, influencing the scope of operations in some cases,” he added, referring to nongovernmental organizations.“For example, today there is no U.S.-funded food assistance and accompanying monitors,” he said by email. “Plus, sanctions have had an impact on overall operating conditions for U.S. and other humanitarian N.G.O.s, influencing the scope of operations in some cases,” he added, referring to nongovernmental organizations.
Twenty to 25 educational, environmental, humanitarian and scientific groups from the United States operate in North Korea, Mr. Luse said.Twenty to 25 educational, environmental, humanitarian and scientific groups from the United States operate in North Korea, Mr. Luse said.
But most of those groups cannot permanently place Americans in North Korea and instead rely on representatives who make travel in and out of the country intermittently. “The North Koreans have been reticent for U.S. organizations to have someone on the ground at all times,” he wrote.But most of those groups cannot permanently place Americans in North Korea and instead rely on representatives who make travel in and out of the country intermittently. “The North Koreans have been reticent for U.S. organizations to have someone on the ground at all times,” he wrote.
Americans who are detained can expect few, if any, protections. The United States does not have an embassy in North Korea, and diplomats from Sweden handle consular services for Americans. But the Swedes have often been unable to meet detained Americans for long periods of time. Mr. Warmbier was only able to see a Swedish representative two months after he had been arrested.Americans who are detained can expect few, if any, protections. The United States does not have an embassy in North Korea, and diplomats from Sweden handle consular services for Americans. But the Swedes have often been unable to meet detained Americans for long periods of time. Mr. Warmbier was only able to see a Swedish representative two months after he had been arrested.
“North Korea has international obligations to provide access and information, something they increasingly do not even recognize,” said Evans J. R. Revere, a former principal deputy assistant secretary of state who worked on the release of several Americans who had been held by the North.“North Korea has international obligations to provide access and information, something they increasingly do not even recognize,” said Evans J. R. Revere, a former principal deputy assistant secretary of state who worked on the release of several Americans who had been held by the North.
The prognosis for the four now held appears to be worsening under Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader who took over after his father, Kim Jong-il, died in December 2011.The prognosis for the four now held appears to be worsening under Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader who took over after his father, Kim Jong-il, died in December 2011.
“The ones arrested more recently, since Kim Jong-un came to power, seem to be held for a longer period of time,” said Robert R. King, a former State Department special envoy for North Korea human rights issues. “When Kim Jong-un’s father was leader the length of time tended to be shorter.”“The ones arrested more recently, since Kim Jong-un came to power, seem to be held for a longer period of time,” said Robert R. King, a former State Department special envoy for North Korea human rights issues. “When Kim Jong-un’s father was leader the length of time tended to be shorter.”
Both Mr. Warmbier and Kim Dong-chul, a businessman who was sentenced last year to 10 years hard labor for an espionage conviction, have spent more than one year in custody.Both Mr. Warmbier and Kim Dong-chul, a businessman who was sentenced last year to 10 years hard labor for an espionage conviction, have spent more than one year in custody.
Kenneth Bae, who was arrested in 2012, spent more than two years in prison before his release, making him the longest-held United States citizen. He was released with another American, Matthew Todd Miller, after the Obama administration’s national intelligence director, James R. Clapper Jr., traveled to North Korea in 2014.Kenneth Bae, who was arrested in 2012, spent more than two years in prison before his release, making him the longest-held United States citizen. He was released with another American, Matthew Todd Miller, after the Obama administration’s national intelligence director, James R. Clapper Jr., traveled to North Korea in 2014.