Biden Extends North Korea Travel Ban for Seventh Year

Updated 1006 AM PDT August 22 2023

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links.

WASHINGTON, AP - The Biden administration is extending for another year a ban on American citizens entering North Korea, the State Department said Tuesday.

The ban, which has been in place since 2017, was first imposed due to the risk of nuclear weapons testing by North Korea. It has been extended every year since then due to the continuing threat posed by the country's nuclear and missile programs.

"The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is a totalitarian dictatorship that has a long history of human rights abuses, including arbitrary detention, torture, and public executions," the State Department said in a statement.

The statement continued: "The DPRK also has a significant military presence near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that separates North and South Korea, and has a history of hostile actions against the United States and its allies." The ban prohibits American citizens from entering North Korea without a special authorization. Those who do can face fines and imprisonment.

The State Department urged American citizens to avoid travel to North Korea.