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North Korea tourism: US 'to ban Americans from visiting' North Korea tourism: US 'to ban Americans from visiting'
(about 2 hours later)
The US is to ban its citizens from travelling to North Korea, according to two agencies that operate tours there.The US is to ban its citizens from travelling to North Korea, according to two agencies that operate tours there.
Koryo Tours and Young Pioneer Tours said the ban would be announced on 27 July to come into effect 30 days later.Koryo Tours and Young Pioneer Tours said the ban would be announced on 27 July to come into effect 30 days later.
The US has not confirmed the news. They were informed by the Swedish embassy, which conducts US affairs in the country.
Young Pioneer Tours was the agency that took US student Otto Warmbier to North Korea. He was later arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison, but was returned to the US in a coma in June. He died a week later. The US has not yet confirmed the ban but there has been momentum, given the worsening ties and the death of jailed American student Otto Warmbier.
The China-based company later announced it would no longer take visitors from the US to the country. Mr Warmbier travelled to North Korea with Young Pioneer Tours. He was arrested in 2016 for trying to steal a propaganda sign and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He was returned to the US in a coma in June and died a week later.
It issued a statement on Friday saying: "We have just been informed that the US government will no longer be allowing US citizens to travel to the DPRK (North Korea). How did the news come to light?
"It is expected that the ban will come into force within 30 days of July 27th. After the 30 day grace period any US national that travels to North Korea will have their passport invalidated by their government." Koryo Tours and Young Pioneer Tours both revealed on Friday that they had been told of the upcoming ban by the Swedish embassy, which acts for the US as Washington has no diplomatic relations with Pyongyang.
'Leeway' Rowan Beard, of Young Pioneer Tours, told the BBC the embassy was urging all US nationals to depart immediately.
Rowan Beard, of Young Pioneer Tours, told the BBC that the company had been informed by the Swedish embassy, which looks after US affairs in North Korea. He said the embassy was trying to check on the number of US tourists left in the country.
The embassy is trying to check on the number of US tourists left in the country. There has been no official confirmation from the US. The state department continues to have an alert dated 9 May strongly warning US citizens not to travel to North Korea.
Mr Beard said the embassy was urging all US nationals to depart immediately. What form will the ban take?
He said that the 30-day grace period would "give leeway for any [Americans] currently in the country as tourists or on humanitarian work". A Young Pioneer Tours statement said: "It is expected that the ban will come into force within 30 days of July 27th.
Simon Cockerill, of Koryo Tours, told the BBC it had also been contacted by the Swedish embassy. "After the 30-day grace period any US national that travels to North Korea will have their passport invalidated by their government."
He said the agency would still conduct tours and take Americans until the ban came into effect. Rowan Beard said that the 30-day grace period would "give leeway for any [Americans] currently in the country as tourists or on humanitarian work".
Mr Cockerill said: "It's unfortunate for the industry but also for North Koreans who want to know what Americans are really like." Simon Cockerell, of Koryo Tours, said: "It remains to be seen what the exact text is, but the indication is it's just a straight up ban on Americans going."
North Korea eased the rules for American visitors in 2010 Associated Press news agency quoted US officials as saying that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had decided to implement a "geographical travel restriction" for North Korea, meaning the use of US passports to enter would be illegal.
But there has been momentum recently in the US for a ban on travel. How have the travel agencies reacted?
Mr Cockerell told the BBC the agency would still conduct tours and take Americans until the ban came into effect.
"If their country allows them to go, we will take them," he said.
Mr Cockerell added: "It's unfortunate for the industry but also for North Koreans who want to know what Americans are really like."
After the death of Mr Warmbier, the China-based Young Pioneer Tours announced it would no longer take visitors from the US to the country.
Why now?
There has been movement towards a ban for a while in the US, which increased with the Warmbier death.
In May, two congressmen introduced the North Korea Travel Control bill to cut off the foreign currency the country earns from American tourists.In May, two congressmen introduced the North Korea Travel Control bill to cut off the foreign currency the country earns from American tourists.
A senior state department official said last month that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had been considering a travel ban since April, and it had gained more urgency since the Warmbier death. The House foreign affairs subcommittee is scheduled to take up the draft legislation on 27 July but it would still have to go to the Senate. So there could be an executive order.
Apart from the treatment of Americans in North Korea, tension has been increasing over Pyongyang's nuclear programme.
This month North Korea announced it had successfully tested what it said was its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the latest in a series of tests in defiance of a UN ban.
Its range has been disputed, but some experts said it could reach Alaska.
The US and South Korea then conducted a ballistic missile drill and issued a stark warning to the North.
Some are suggesting the US is using the date the ban is set to be announced - 27 July - to cloud North Korea's Victory Day on the same day.
How many Americans will it affect?
North Korea only relaxed its rules for American visitors in 2010.
The state department does not keep a record of the number of American tourists.
Tour operators suggest that up to 1,000 visit every year.
What happened to Otto Warmbier?
Otto Warmbier, 22, was an economics student who was arrested on 2 January 2016 and confessed to trying to take a propaganda sign from a hotel.Otto Warmbier, 22, was an economics student who was arrested on 2 January 2016 and confessed to trying to take a propaganda sign from a hotel.
He was sentenced to 15 years of hard labour.He was sentenced to 15 years of hard labour.
In June, North Korea said he had been in a coma for a year after contracting botulism.In June, North Korea said he had been in a coma for a year after contracting botulism.
He was flown back to the US on 13 June but died a week later without regaining consciousness.He was flown back to the US on 13 June but died a week later without regaining consciousness.
His family rejected North Korea's version of events, saying he had been subjected to "awful torturous mistreatment".His family rejected North Korea's version of events, saying he had been subjected to "awful torturous mistreatment".
There are reported to be three other US citizens in custody in North Korea: Are there any Americans still being detained?
Yes. There are reported to be three US citizens in custody:
The US has in the past accused North Korea of detaining its citizens to use them as pawns in negotiations over its nuclear weapons programme.The US has in the past accused North Korea of detaining its citizens to use them as pawns in negotiations over its nuclear weapons programme.
Tensions increased this month when North Korea announced it had successfully tested what it said was its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the latest in a series of tests in defiance of a UN ban.
The US and South Korea then conducted a ballistic missile drill and issued a stark warning to the North.