US to prohibit citizens from traveling to North Korea

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The U.S. on Friday said it will prohibit its citizens from traveling to North Korea on American passports.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson authorized the rare geographical travel restriction due to "mounting concerns over the serious risk of arrest and long-term detention" in the North, State Departement spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.

"Once in effect, U.S. passports will be invalid for travel to, through and in North Korea, and individuals will be required to obtain a passport with a special validation to travel to or within North Korea," she said. Exemptions will be made "for certain limited humanitarian or other purposes.”

The State Department plans to place a notice in the federal register next week. The new restriction will go into effect 30 days after it is published.

While rare, America's top diplomat is allowed to implement "geographical travel restrictions" when the safety of U.S. nationals is seriously jeopardized by travel to the location.

The announcement follows the death of 22-year-old American university student Otto Warmbier, who was released from North Korean custody last month and sent to the U.S. in a coma. He died June 19, six days after arriving in his home city of Cincinnati, Ohio.

At least three other U.S. nationals remain imprisoned in North Korea.