can an american visit north korea

Young Pioneer Tours

Can Americans travel to North Korea in 2024?

Since September 1 st 2017 the US State Department introduced travel restrictions to North Korea for all American tourists. This restriction is valid for one year, but has been renewed each year on the 31 st of August unless otherwise revoked by the US Secretary of State. Can Americans travel to North Korea? The US State Department Travel restriction prohibits the use of a US passport for travel to, in, and through the DPRK. Four categories of US visitors are allowed to apply for an exemption to the rule. Journalists, Red Cross officials, humanitarian workers and those working “in the national interest”.

Can dual national Americans travel to North Korea?

By the letter of the law, dual-nationals can use their non-US passport to travel to North Korea as a tourist and indeed have been reported as doing so. We obviously do not offer, nor imply offering legal advice, but as per the wording of the US, US passports have been invalidated for travel to the DPRK , rather than a blanket ban for citizens.

It should though be noted that there is no US embassy in North Korea should dual nationals run into problems. Technically in this case they would be assisted by the country of their passport.

Can Americans visit North Korea as a tourist? Even for one day?

As the law stands there is no material difference between going for a day or going for a month. In the meantime, we’d suggest our North Korea Borderlands Tour – you will never set foot on North Korean soil, but you will see and experience North Korean border life. We also have our South Korean Borderlands Tour where you catch glimpses of the North Korean landscape and have an up and close encounter with the South Korean military.

If I find a travel company willing to take me to North Korea on my US passport, can I go?

Technically, yes. The North Koreans did not block Americans from entering North Korea on US passports. This was a US government decision. That said, YPT is not willing to assist a US passport traveller in committing a crime against their country, and we strongly recommend that you respect your government’s laws.

Keep in mind people have not only been arrested, but have lost their passport for doing this.

Is the North Korea US travel ban the same as Cuba travel ban?

Americans were previously banned from spending any money in Cuba, which constituted a de facto ban on visiting. Passports were never confiscated as a result of visiting Cuba; the worst that could happen was a fine. Granted, this fine could be pretty high.

Have any Americans traveled to North Korea since the ban?

Previously some Americans involved in the humanitarian sector were allowed to stay in the DPRK and there have also been some rumoured high level meetings between closed doors. In this respects it is not a blanket ban, with people able to apply for an exemption in order to travel to North Korea.

Famously of course Donald Trump briefly stepped into the DPRK at the DMZ, while Travis King also went slightly further from the same exit point. In fairness neither had their passports with them at the time.

Will Americans be allowed to travel to North Korea again?

If dialogue and diplomatic relations continue to improve between North Korea and the US, there is a chance for this travel restriction to be lifted which then we will make announcements on our website, Facebook , Twitter and Instagram . Trump 2024? Stranger things have happened.

Rowan Beard

Rowan’s a YPT co-founder with over 100 visits to North Korea (DPRK) and visited 100+ countries. You’ll most likely catch him leading group tours in Africa, East Asia, and the Middle East.

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An American in South Korea Heads North (Part 1)

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Americans Can't Visit North Korea. Some Who Have Family There Hope Biden Changes That

Anthony Kuhn

North Korean Kang Ho-Rye (second from left), 89, hugs her South Korean relative at a resort at Mount Kumgang, North Korea, in August 2018. Almost 100 South Koreans crossed the armed border to the North to meet their separated families. The U.S. bars citizens from entering North Korea, but some Korean Americans hope the Biden administration will lift the ban and let them visit again. Lee Su-Kil/Pool/Getty Images hide caption

SEOUL — The Biden administration has to decide by the end of the month whether to renew a ban on U.S. citizens traveling to North Korea, and Americans with relatives in North Korea are eagerly awaiting the decision.

They include Kate Shim, who immigrated to the United States from South Korea in the 1970s. After the Korean War, her uncle was missing and her family believed he was in North Korea.

Shim says her great-grandmother told her father: "You need to find your brother because I know he's alive."

Shim's brother managed to track down their missing uncle in North Korea in the 1980s, finally reuniting him with his mother after more than 30 years.

In 1989, Shim started visiting relatives in North Korea, too.

"They were alive, and I was so happy to see my cousins," says Shim, 62. "We didn't care about, like, what politics, what kind of government we are under. We're just happy to see them."

In the 1940s and 50s, the division of Korea into two countries and the Korean War left as many as 10 million Koreans separated from their families. U.S. officials estimated in 2001 that the figure included 100,000 Korean Americans, but the number has dwindled as their communities age.

For many of the remaining members of that divided generation, time is running out to reunite with their relatives separated by geography and clashing governments.

Travel was banned after Otto Warmbier

In this Feb. 29, 2016, photo, American student Otto Warmbier cries while speaking in Pyongyang, North Korea. Warmbier died in June 2017 days after being released from detention in North Korea in a coma. Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP hide caption

The U.S. has barred the use of an American passport to enter North Korea since 2017, making limited, one-time exceptions for some citizens such as aid workers and journalists.

101 Ways To Thwart A Reporter In Pyongyang

The Trump administration enacted the ban following the June 2017 death of American college student Otto Warmbier after his release from detention in Pyongyang.

The Two-Way

Otto warmbier's parents sue north korea, alleging torture of their son.

North Korean authorities arrested Warmbier in January 2016 and sentenced him to 15 years of hard labor for taking a propaganda poster in a hotel in Pyongyang. After being in custody for more than a year, the 22-year-old was flown home in a coma and died shortly after. North Korea has denied accusations of torture.

Last year, when Biden was a candidate, he said in an op-ed that as president he would work "to reunite Korean Americans separated from loved ones in North Korea for decades."

The administration has not commented on what it will do about the travel policy.

In a statement to NPR, the State Department said it renewed the restriction in September 2020 "due to continuing concerns over the serious risk of arrest and long-term detention in North Korea." The ban will expire on Sept. 1 unless the secretary of state extends or revokes it.

(The government's travel advisory also says not to visit North Korea now because of COVID-19 .)

Detention risk or dialogue opportunity

Some experts on North Korea believe the threat of detention remains, and so should the restriction.

North Korea Says Detained American Had Intended To 'Subvert The Country'

"At this moment, there's no reason to get rid of the travel ban," argues Anthony Ruggiero, a former National Security Council director for North Korea. He says Pyongyang has not abandoned its practice of detaining Americans as it hopes to secure political leverage over Washington.

Former President Bill Clinton claps as former Vice President Al Gore hugs Laura Ling and Euna Lee smiles with joy. Clinton and the two California journalists whose freedom he helped secure from prison in North Korea arrived at what's now called Hollywood Burbank Airport on Aug. 5, 2009. Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images hide caption

Some previous detentions have required former presidents, including Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton , to travel to North Korea to secure their release and bring them home.

The ban should only be lifted "when North Korea is more of a normal country, that doesn't kidnap people," says Ruggiero, now a senior fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, a research group in Washington that has advocated for a hard line against North Korea.

Ruggiero doesn't think allowing people-to-people exchanges will help persuade the government of Kim Jong Un to give up its nuclear weapons and missiles programs.

Other observers argue that reopening travel could be a start.

"The U.S. is saying we want the North Koreans to come to the table," notes Daniel Jasper, the Asia public education and advocacy coordinator at the American Friends Service Committee, a Philadelphia-based peace advocacy group. "In order to do that," he says, "we have to get back to baseline level of engagement, or North Koreans will continue to understand that to mean that the U.S. is not really sincere in their attempts to engage."

Jasper attended a meeting recently where several civic groups tried to persuade administration officials to lift the ban.

The White House has said it's taking a " calibrated practical approach " toward potential diplomacy with North Korea. This week, Biden's envoy for North Korea, Sung Kim, said he discussed with South Korean officials possible ways to address humanitarian cooperation with North Korea.

Meanwhile, advocates and lawmakers have pushed for help reuniting divided Korean families. A bill is now before the Senate that would require U.S. officials to consult with Korean Americans on progress on these efforts.

North Koreans on a bus hold hands of their South Korean relatives to bid farewell after the separated family reunion meeting at the Mount Kumgang resort on Aug. 26, 2018, in Mount Kumgang, North Korea. Lee Su-Kil/Pool/Getty Images hide caption

Opening up helps to seek closure

Although official visitor figures for North Korea are hard to find, one tour operator estimated as many as 1,000 Americans went annually, according to news reports before the ban took effect.

One of the lucky ones who made it was Choon Lim. He was born in Nampo, North Korea, and fled to South Korea during the war. He later settled in Chicago.

In 1998, he visited North Korea hoping to find his father, but discovered he had died six years before.

When it came time for Lim to pour an offering of liquor before his father's ashes, he froze for an instant, that felt like an eternity.

"All those 47 years, what I have experienced, how I lived, how we lived in the South, all those things came down through my head. And I collapsed. I couldn't do it," remembers Lim, who is 75.

Lim later returned to North Korea several times with other Korean American families.

"I worked for helping separated family members visiting North Korea," he says, "because every one of the separated families should have the same kind of a closure that I had."

Waiting for a peaceful resolution

Ed Kang is also in favor of ending the travel ban. Born in 1934, he grew up in a Christian family in Pyongyang. He fled to avoid persecution under the communist regime, walking with his father the roughly 120 miles to Seoul in the winter of 1950.

"Many times, I was almost killed, but I survived," Kang recalls. "I saw the hand of God, protecting me and guiding me." Kang became a Presbyterian minister in the U.S., and returned to North Korea several times to visit his mother and younger brother, after being separated for more than 30 years.

He says the travel ban is causing unnecessary suffering, and removing it would be "making a contribution to a kind of peaceful resolution between the U.S. and North Korea."

Even if the ban is lifted, though, North Korea remains closed to the outside world, due to the pandemic. It has stopped answering hotline connecting it with South Korea, and says it is "not even considering " negotiations with the U.S.

Se Eun Gong contributed to this story from Seoul and Michele Kelemen from Washington, D.C.

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North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) Travel Advisory

Travel advisory july 24, 2023, north korea - level 4: do not travel.

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.

Do not travel to North Korea due to the continuing serious risk of arrest and long-term detention of U.S. nationals. Exercise increased caution to North Korea due to the critical threat of wrongful detention.

All U.S. passports are invalid for travel to, in, or through the DPRK unless specially validated for such travel under the authority of the Secretary of State.
Special validations are granted only in very limited circumstances. More information on how to apply for the special validation is available here .

The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in North Korea as it does not have diplomatic or consular relations with North Korea. Sweden serves as the protecting power for the United States in North Korea, providing limited emergency services. The North Korean government routinely delays or denies Swedish officials access to detained U.S. citizens.

Due to risks to civil aviation operating within or in the vicinity of North Korea, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) and/or a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR). For more information U.S. citizens should consult the Federal Aviation Administration’s Prohibitions, Restrictions and Notices .

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to North Korea.

If you receive a special validation to travel to North Korea:

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Can I Travel to North Korea? Yes, You Actually Can & Here’s How

Travel to North Korea is not something a lot of people have done. So there’s really not much information about travel to North Korea online. But, people actually do it. (There’s not many).

So why do people travel to North Korea? HOW do you travel to North Korea? And what should you expect once you’re there…

RELATED: I Have Been To North Korea Almost 30 Times & Counting, Why I Keep Going Back

Table of Contents

Who Travels to North Korea?

There are generally three different types of people that travel to North Korea.

Those glory seekers looking to tell a tale about the time they went to the ‘mysterious Hermit Kingdom’.
Those interested in communist and socialist countries.
Those who want to see the country for themselves instead of just through the eyes of the media.

Within these categories, you have all kinds of people. Different ages, social backgrounds, and different nationalities.

Aside from Chinese people, the most common nationality to see in North Korea are Brits, Germans, Australians, Dutch etc… And Americans – before the travel ban.

Yes, that’s right. Trump’s travel ban forbids US citizens from traveling to North Korea (sorry guys). But Biden has suggested that he may be lifting some of these bans. So let’s see!

For now, US citizens cannot go.

RELATED: The Curious Case Of North Korean Currency & Why It Is So Rare

HOW to Travel to the DPRK?

While most people don’t even know you can travel to North Korea, let’s explore the process of how you get there in the first place.

Firstly, you need to go through a tour company. There’s no other way to get into North Korea. No tour company, no visa, no entry. You will then book a tour through the tour company, depending on how many nights you want to stay, where you want to go etc. Tours normally include everything, from travel into the country, to the accommodation and full board. Although you can of course buy anything extra once you’re in North Korea.

The path to get there is through China. You can either take a plane or a train into North Korea, depending on your time and budget. There are also sometimes flights available from Russia and South-East Asian countries.

In North Korea

Rules & politics.

Once you’re in North Korea, you will be met by your North Korean guides. From the moment you arrive, you can’t walk around by yourself. You should always be accompanied by these guides. Contrary to popular opinion, these guides are not the glamorous ‘government minders’ that the media labels them to be. They are trained tour guides who have studied and worked hard to get where they are.

There are a lot more rules for your travel to North Korea, including rules on photography and what you should and shouldn’t do. You’ll get a full briefing from your tour company before you go into North Korea.

A lot of people are concerned with the safety of the trip. Basically, if you stick to the rules, you will be fine.

Can I Bring my Mobile Phone?

Yes, no problem! (But see below)

Can I Talk to Local North Koreans?

Yes, and no. You can try, but they probably won’t want to talk to you and if you don’t know Korean that’s going to be difficult anyway.

What if I Do Something Bad?

Everyone makes mistakes. If you accidentally break the rules once or twice (depending on what it is!) then that’s fine. A guide might pull you aside and mention it to you. If you do it again and again… Mistakes can only be mistakes for so long, and at some point it must be deliberate. Depending on what you do, you could get yourself, the group, or the guides into trouble. If you’re ever unsure, ask your guides!

Check Your Phone and Electronic Devices

You can bring your phone and laptop, but make sure to check your device before you go in. It is not permitted to have any religious material, Korean material, or anything to do with North Korea on you when you go in. Make sure to delete any Korean dramas you might have downloaded!

Where Can I Go?

Foreigners can currently visit all but one province in North Korea. Aside from city life in Pyongyang, you can head out to the countryside to enjoy skiing, hiking, and even going to the beach and swimming in the sea.

In Pyongyang, your visit will mainly comprise of visits to important historical sites and revolutionary sites, as well as famous monuments such as the Juche Tower and the Mansudae Grand Monuments (the big bronze statues).

Other than that, you might even get to go to some fun places like the bowling alley, you could go ice skating, to the spa, coffee shop, or local beer bar.

Seeing is Believing

Surprisingly, it’s not actually all fake! In fact, there is pretty much northing fake about it. It functions as a country and there are people living their lives – not acting – inside. But I suppose you might need to go there before you believe me on that one.

If you’re looking for all the action you get on the media, for example, rocket launches and military parades, you might be disappointed. Military parades happy very rarely, only on special occasions, and even then it is difficult to see as a foreigner.

Accommodation

What’s a North Korean hotel like?

A lot will tell you that all the tourists are put into the same hotel that sits on an island in the middle of the river so you can’t walk off easily. As glitzy as this Alcatraz-like theory is, we have to bust it, unfortunately. There’s over 10 hotels in Pyongyang alone where foreigners can stay – one even with a great view of the party headquarters.

The Alcatraz hotel is called Yanggakdo, and it’s probably one of the most popular hotels to stay in. It’s big, just got refurbished, and has a lot of facilities. It’s also in a convenient location and gives killer views of Pyongyang city in the morning.

The hotels in North Korea would have all been really nice and really fancy… 30 years ago. But they haven’t really had many makeovers since they were first built and therefore sit in a weird out-dated time capsule. Things break and fall off, sometimes there’s no hot water and blackouts do happen sometimes too. But this is much more frequent in the countryside.

Go with an open mind and embrace the “traditional meets kitsch” interiors with a pinch of salt.

Everyone’s favorite topic!

If you love Korean food, you’ll have no problem. If you’re up for trying different foods, you’ll also have no problem. But, if you’re a strict ‘will-only-eat-pizza-and-chips’ kind of person, you might want to re-think your trip to North Korea, or pack a lot of food.

The food in North Korea is plentiful. You eat in traditional Chinese/Korean style, having food presented in the middle of the table and everyone just grabbing a bit of everything. Food ranges from Bibimbap (fried rice) to noodles, sushi, and everything in between! (Apart from pizza and chips).

For those with dietary requirements, they can also cater for you. Just let them know in advance!

Can I Travel To North Korea Final Thoughts

A tour to North Korea is not for the faint-hearted. It’s not a beach holiday in Barbados or a shopping trip in New York. It’s action-packed and you’ll be on the move from 7am to 7pm at night – with some days being longer. You get your most out of the money, and more. But you will be tired. And, you’ll probably leave North Korea with more questions than answers.

Ultimately, I always come back to the same quote. North Korea is pleasantly underwhelming. You may be underwhelmed, in a good way. It’s pretty normal. But sometimes we go in with such prejudice about it from the media. So go in with a good mind and you’ll learn a lot, discover a lot, and want to find out a lot more.

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Very interesting, I wouldn’t have even considered it before. I would still prefer S Korea of course as it has all the amenities and protection I am looking for.a great write up. Have you been to Iran, I tried that a couple times as an American and my Visa was denied.

I agree with your comment. I visited S. Korea a couple of times, on business. Once I spent three months and enjoyed life in S. Korea. I stayed at the “Chosun Hotel” and enjoyed every minute of my stay in S. Korea. S. Koreans are so friendly and so helpful. Their Metro System is perfectly clean as well as all the passengers, but very crowded during business hours and smelly of “KIMSHY” that is very tasty. At mid-day and 06:00pm, Catholic Churches ring the bells and, surisingly, I watched the majority of pedestrians stopped, made the sign of the Cross and prayed for a few minutes, then proceed to walk. I never knew that in S. Korea there were such a great number of Catholics. During one of my trips, my Wife joined me for one month during Christmas and New Year Season. We went to the Catholic Cathedral for the mid-night Mass. The Cathedral was FULL, but they managed to find us two seats at the end of the Church. All of a sudden, the Photographers of a Television Channel observed us, they came staright to photograh us. Apparently, we were the only non-Asians at the Church and my wife was Blond. I love S. Koreans, I love their food, I love their efficiency and I made a lot of Friends.

On Travel – The Greatness of the Unintentional Nap

Oof three hotel service trends only getting worse, something’s better than nothing – my 2024 points and travel spring cleaning, i tried 4 of the most popular walt disney world character breakfasts – was it worth it for the cost.

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How To Travel to North Korea as a Tourist

13/05/2024 Update: Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, North Korea’s borders have been completely closed to foreigners. As of right now, it is not possible to go to North Korea, although borders are set to open soon.

Quite a few of my friends were shocked to discover I was travelling to North Korea. “I didn’t even know you could go to North Korea, let alone join a tour group!” they exclaimed.

Yup, against common belief, it is possible to travel to North Korea. And it’s actually surprisingly easy.

Almost anyone can visit North Korea, with the exception of citizens of South Korea and the United States. It was only recently (September 2019) that the US government banned its citizens from travelling to North Korea, and this may be reversed in time now that Donald Trump is out of office.

In this blog post, I’ll walk you through how to travel to North Korea as a tourist, explaining everything you need to know about tours, visas and travelling into the country itself.

How To Travel To North Korea: The Logistics

There are very few places from where you can enter North Korea — you can’t simply book a flight from London to Pyongyang! You will most likely need to go through China, which shares a border with North Korea. You’ll also need to book onto a government-run tour group, as you cannot visit North Korea independently.

With this in mind, there are three things you’ll need to do in order to visit North Korea as a tourist:

Book onto a tour
Arrange a Chinese visa
Organise transport to China

1) Book Onto A Tour

To visit North Korea, you must book onto a tour group. You cannot visit North Korea independently as the country’s government simply doesn’t allow this. Any visit to North Korea will be an all-inclusive tour with an organized itinerary — there is no getting around this.

Your tour group is ultimately controlled by the Government via the Korean International Travel Company. This means your itinerary is set in stone, with no room for free exploration or solo adventuring. You will be escorted at all times by two guides and a driver.

There are a few tour operators who run trips in North Korea, and these are Lupine Travel , Young Pioneers and Koryo Group . I personally went with Lupine Travel, although it seems as though the three companies are all fairly similar.

There is quite a well-pathed tourist route which most if not all, tourists are taken on. This goes to all the main attractions in Pyongyang , to the Demilitarised Zone on the border of South Korea and to a mountainous region in the north.

Once you choose the tour you want to go on and have booked it, the tour operator will take care of a lot of the logistics for you, including your return transport into North Korea from China, your North Korean visa and your accommodation, food and itinerary once in North Korea.

The tour company probably will not take care of your return transport to China from your home country, or your Chinese visa (although they will help you with this).

Once you’re booked onto a tour, the company will liaise with you prior to your trip, ensuring they have everything they need from you and that you have everything ready, as well.

2) Get Your Chinese Visa

My tour with Lupine Travel started and ended in Beijing. This meant I required a Dual Entry Chinese Visa, as I would technically be entering China twice: once via a flight from London, and then again when I left North Korea.

The Chinese visa can be a little tricky. I’ve applied for and received 2 Chinese visas in the last decade, and they were a bit of a hassle on both occasions. There are a lot of forms to fill out and it can get complicated. Be sure to read through the documents carefully and answer everything truthfully.

For your Chinese visa, you will need:

Your passport: with a remaining validity of at least 6 months and with blank visa pages.
Visa Application Form: truthfully completed and type-written.
A photo: taken within the last six months; full face against a light background; size: 48mm x 33mm; bare-headed unless for religious reasons.

You can visit a Chinese embassy or Chinese Visa Application Centre to hand in your documents, or you can mail it. It typically takes four working days to process your application, but it’s recommended that you apply about 2 months before, as there can be issues. They rejected my photo on one occasion and I had to resubmit it, for example.

Once approved and processed, you can go and collect your passport and visa. The fee for a Chinese visa is £150 / $140.

Visit the Chinese Visa Application Service Center to apply for your visa.

The tour company you booked with will handle your North Korean tourist visa for you. All you’ll need to do is fill in a few simple forms and send over a scanned copy of your passport. Your guide will then give you your North Korean visa once you meet up with your tour group.

3) Book Your Transport To China

As your tour to North Korea likely starts in China, you’ll need to book flights or some other form of transport to China, as this is probably not included in your tour package. Check which city your tour’s meeting place is — mine met at the train station in Beijing, but some meet in the city of Dandong, which is on the border of China and North Korea.

Flights from Europe start from about £500. You can search for cheap flights on Skyscanner.

Travelling into North Korea from China

As mentioned above, your tour company will take care of the logistics of your transport into and out of North Korea from China. You’ll most likely meet your tour group in Beijing or Dandong, and then travel with them from there into North Korea, either by train or plane. It depends on the tour company you go with as to whether you’ll go by train or plane. You will be escorted at all times on your transit into and out of North Korea.

The sleeper train departs Beijing in the late afternoon and goes through Northeast China overnight, before reaching the border at around midday.

Once at the border, North Korean soldiers will come onboard to do visa, passport and luggage checks. I found the experience quite intimidating; they poked around in my backpack and asked me to explain what some things were. I remember a fellow traveller on my tour awkwardly explaining what his beard trimmer was used for.

You will also be given forms asking you to declare electronic devices that you’re bringing into the country. I’d advise that you don’t bring any devices with you if possible — you won’t be able to use the internet or make phone calls anyway, and you may be asked to open it up and show the soldiers your files.

Be certain that you do not have religious material, pornography, or memes/other insulting material about North Korea on your device.

It can take a few hours to cross the North Korean entry customs. Once through, you’ll spend about 5 hours travelling through the scenic North Korean countryside before arriving in Pyongyang .

Lauren Pears on the train to North Korea

Another way to enter North Korea from China is to take an aeroplane, which is much quicker than the train but certainly less scenic. Air Koryo runs three to four flights from Beijing to Pyongyang each week, as well as weekly flights from Shanghai, Shenyang and Dandong.

I took the train myself, so I don’t have first-hand insight into what the plane is like. But apparently, you’re welcomed on board with songs about socialism and Kim Jong-un, as well as magazines that showcase the ‘fatherly leader’ and the heinous war crimes of Japan and the US.

Tourism in North Korea: Frequently Asked Questions

There are lots of unique rules and regulations around travelling to North Korea as a foreigner, so let’s break these down.

How Much Does It Cost To Visit North Korea?

The North Korean tour companies I mentioned above organise all-inclusive packages. This means all of your meals, transport within the country and hotel will be included in the price. Tour prices range massively — between about £400 and £3500 depending on the length of your tour and the company you choose to go with.

Lupine Travel tours start at £569 ($740)
Young Pioneers tours start at £444 ($578)
Koryo Group tours start at £448 ($583)

You should also bear in mind the cost of getting to North Korea. My flight from London to Beijing (the starting point of the tour) was about £500.

Monument to Party Founder, Pyongyang, North Korea

Is It Safe To Visit North Korea?

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advises against all but essential travel to North Korea. They note that “the security situation in North Korea can change with little notice and with no advance warning of possible actions by the North Korean authorities.” However, the FCO also advises the same for many parts of Turkey and Egypt, which are still frequently visited by tourists.

Tensions between North Korea and the United States have calmed and North Korea announced a halt to its missile testing in April 2018. It is now arguably much safer to visit the country than when I visited in August 2017 .

As long as you follow all the rules outlined to you before you enter North Korea, travel is ‘deemed safe’ in that you are never alone and are not going to be the target of petty crimes such as theft.

While there is definitely some risk in visiting North Korea, if you follow the rules and remain respectful, there should be no issues. Terrorism and crimes towards tourists are highly unlikely and detainment of tourists is rare!

Kim Il Sung Square, Pyongyang, North Korea

What Are The Rules For Tourists In North Korea?

Your every movement is watched and monitored and, under no circumstance , can you wander off on your own. Doing so will result in serious consequences for both you and your tour guide.
The country dislikes the term North Korea and prefers to be called the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or DPRK for short.
Do not speak negatively about the country or the leaders. Disrespecting the country is viewed as a major offence and has caused problems for tourists in the past.
You cannot take photos of everything. You’re allowed to take photos of tourist attractions etc, but it is forbidden to photograph the military, labourers or construction sites, among other things.
You must ensure that any photos of statues of the leaders must capture their whole body — no close-ups or chopping off their feet from the frame.
Your belongings will be thoroughly searched at the border. It is forbidden to bring religious material, porn or literature or film about North Korea into the country. Please, for heaven’s sake, do not try to bring a copy of The Interview into North Korea. Confiscated possessions may not be returned at the border.
Practising religion is not allowed. North Korea is an atheist country and practising religion there is highly restricted. Praying or showing off a bible is a great way to get detained.
You cannot speak with random citizens during your time in North Korea, as doing so may be considered espionage.

Will Visiting North Korea Affect Whether Other Countries Grant Me Entry?

Not at all! There are no restrictions on entering any country due to previous entry into North Korea — including South Korea and the United States. In fact, it’s unlikely that border controls will even know you’ve been to North Korea because your visa is issued on a separate piece of paper and your passport is not stamped.

My Experience Visiting North Korea

I found my time in North Korea to actually feel a lot more relaxed than I anticipated. When I first arrived, I was a little nervous and tried not to look at anybody for too long or seem disrespectful in any way.

However, by the end of my second day in North Korea, I felt more relaxed and realised that I just had to follow the rules. I stuck with my tour group, asked permission to take photos, didn’t question any “facts” the tour guides stated about their country, and didn’t try to interact with random locals. In doing this, all was well.

The country was extremely different to how I imagined it and threw a lot of my preconceptions out the window.

I was surprised, for example, to find that Pyongyang was a very picturesque and modern city. I think I had expected it to look kind of grey and old. I was also surprised to see that the countryside was absolutely beautiful, with rolling hills and vivid green colours.

Of course, I also saw plenty of things that upset, angered or confused me a little, such as the phenomenal amount of blatant propaganda and the fact that a guy on my tour got told off for buying ice cream from a nearby stall.

READ MORE: My North Korea Travel Experience – What’s It Really Like?

What Do You Get To See In North Korea?

The key thing to bear in mind is that you won’t get to see the real North Korea. You’ll be ferried from place to place — mostly within Pyongyang — with zero opportunity for independent exploration. You’ll only see what they allow you to see, in what I believe is a very tightly controlled tourist route.

Monuments And Squares

A trip to North Korea will most definitely involve visiting the sites they want you to see , such as Kim Il Sung Square, the Founding Party Monument, the captured US spy ship USS Pueblo, Kim Il Sung’s native home and many more. These are, what I would call, showpieces of the regime.

The Pyongyang Metro

At 110 metres underground, the Pyongyang metro is the deepest metro station in the world. Covered in propaganda, images of the Kim family, and with station names such as ‘Comrade’, ‘Glory’ and ‘Reunification’, North Korea’s metro is really quite an experience.

While it was definitely the most interesting metro journey I’ve ever been on, the whole scenario was somehow quite strange. You can only ride 5 of the 16 stops — perhaps there’s something secret beyond stop 5.

Tourists on the Pyongyang Metro, North Korea

The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is a strip of land running along the Korean Peninsula. It is used as a buffer zone between North and South Korea, and is 160 miles long and 2.5 miles wide.

While tourists can easily visit the DMZ in South Korea, this is a chance to see it from the other side and, of course, hear the story from North Korea’s perspective.

The Kaeson Funfair

The Kaeson Funfair was the only place we were allowed to wander around somewhat freely. Our guides let us mingle with the locals a little and stood guard along the pathways leading to the entry and exit points.

We were, however, told that we should skip all the queues and go straight onto any ride we wanted, because “we’re Western.” This annoyed me, as I didn’t feel that this presented a good view of us as Westerners to the citizens of North Korea. Perhaps they didn’t mind, but as a Brit, orderly queues are an essential part of my culture!

Is It Ethical To Visit North Korea?

This is the most important question you should ask yourself before visiting North Korea: is it ethical?

There is a view that visiting North Korea is potentially helping to fund the regime . I.e. that you’re helping to fund horrific human rights atrocities and nuclear programmes. However, I believe that the money North Korea receives from tourism is very small. With only 10,000 tourists a year, most of which are from China, how much can they really be making from this? It’s not like tourism in North Korea is a booming industry.

I also strongly believe that completely stripping a country of exposure to other cultures and attitudes is detrimental. Contact with the outside world helps to improve the citizens’ views of outsiders, which is a good thing since they’ve held a very bad view of the West for decades. Peace and progression within North Korea are certainly never going to occur if its citizens aren’t exposed to anything other than what they already know.

It’s certainly not a black-and-white answer and is something that you should consider carefully.

READ MORE: Is It Ethical To Visit North Korea?

About The Author

Lauren Pears is a freelance travel writer and blogger based in London. She writes about active adventure travel, aiming to encourage and inspire travellers to make the most of the great outdoors.

Thank you for reading! If you found this post useful, I’d be grateful if you would consider using the affiliate links below when planning your travels. I’ll make a small commission at no extra cost to you. This will help me to keep this blog running. Thanks for your support – Lauren. Hotels – Booking.com Hostels – Hostelworld Cheap flights – Skyscanner Travel insurance – World Nomads Outdoor gear – Decathlon / GO Outdoors Cycling gear – Chain Reaction Cycles Alternatively, you could buy me a coffee to say thanks!

My North Korea Travel Vlog (Video)

Dandong: The Chinese City on the Edge of North Korea

My North Korea Travel Experience – What’s It Really Like?

12 Things to Do in Pyongyang, North Korea

Is it Ethical to Visit North Korea?

Thanks a lot for your explanation Lauren this country is my dream to visit , however, I am terrified and nervous. and how I control myself.

I got curious about visiting North Korea since I saw a pic of someone else’s tour there. I didn’t even know it was possible to visit! But then my bubble burst since finding out that it has stopped since covid 🙁 anyways, thanks for writing this, it’s done plenty to satiate my curiosity for now haha

Thanks for reading Monica! Tours will likely open up again at some point in the future 🙂

very good and very detailed article.

Thanks John!

Very informative article on a unique topic, so much appreciated 🙂 I agree with the final message that there is a reciprocal value in connecting with people and cultures all around the world.

Glad you found it informative Lucas!

Biden administration extends Trump-era ban on US passport use for North Korea travel

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration has extended for one year a Trump-era ban on the use of U.S. passports for travel to North Korea.

The ban had first been imposed by former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in 2017 after the death of American student Otto Warmbier , who suffered grievous injuries while in North Korean custody. It has been extended annually ever since.

The State Department announced the extension of the ban until Aug. 31, 2022, in a Federal Register notice to be published on Thursday. Humanitarian groups have expressed concern about the impact the initial ban and its extensions have had on providing relief to isolated North Korea, which is one of the world’s neediest countries .

►State TV: North Koreans concerned over Kim Jong Un's 'emaciated looks'

►'Tense' food situation: Kim Jong Un warns of possible food shortages, extended COVID-19 restrictions

The ban makes it illegal to use a U.S. passport for travel to, from or through North Korea, also known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or the DPRK, unless the document has been specially validated. Such validations are granted by the State Department only in the case of compelling national interest.

“The Department of State has determined there continues to be serious risk to U.S. citizens and nationals of arrest and long-term detention constituting imminent danger to their physical safety,” the department said in the notice. “Accordingly, all U.S. passports shall remain invalid for travel to, in, or through the DPRK unless specially validated for such travel under the authority of the secretary of state."

►No-show: Even in absence, North Korea's presence felt at Tokyo Games

Warmbier was part of a group tour of North Korea and was leaving the country in January 2016 when he was arrested for allegedly stealing a propaganda poster. He was later convicted of subversion and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. In June 2017, North Korean authorities reported to U.S. officials that Warmbier had suffered extensive injuries while in custody, and President Donald Trump's administration sent a delegation to repatriate him.

Comatose, Warmbier died in a Cincinnati hospital six days after his return to the U.S. Shortly thereafter, Tillerson imposed the ban on the use of U.S. passports for travel to North Korea.

Americans Can't Visit North Korea. Some Who Have Family There Hope Biden Changes That

North Korean Kang Ho-Rye (second from left), 89, hugs her South Korean relative at a resort at Mount Kumgang, North Korea, in August 2018. Almost 100 South Koreans crossed the armed border to the North to meet their separated families. The U.S. bars citizens from entering North Korea, but some Korean Americans hope the Biden administration will lift the ban and let them visit again.

Updated August 27, 2021 at 1:04 PM ET

They include Kate Shim, who immigrated to the United States from South Korea in the 1970s. After the Korean War, her uncle was missing and her family believed he was in North Korea.

Shim says her great-grandmother told her father: "You need to find your brother because I know he's alive."

Shim's brother managed to track down their missing uncle in North Korea in the 1980s, finally reuniting him with his mother after more than 30 years.

In 1989, Shim started visiting relatives in North Korea, too.

"They were alive, and I was so happy to see my cousins," says Shim, 62. "We didn't care about, like, what politics, what kind of government we are under. We're just happy to see them."

For many of the remaining members of that divided generation, time is running out to reunite with their relatives separated by geography and clashing governments.

Travel was banned after Otto Warmbier

In this Feb. 29, 2016, photo, American student Otto Warmbier cries while speaking in Pyongyang, North Korea. Warmbier died in June 2017 days after being released from detention in North Korea in a coma.

The U.S. has barred the use of an American passport to enter North Korea since 2017, making limited, one-time exceptions for some citizens such as aid workers and journalists.

The Trump administration enacted the ban following the June 2017 death of American college student Otto Warmbier after his release from detention in Pyongyang.

Last year, when Biden was a candidate, he said in an op-ed that as president he would work "to reunite Korean Americans separated from loved ones in North Korea for decades."

The administration has not commented on what it will do about the travel policy.

(The government's travel advisory also says not to visit North Korea now because of COVID-19 .)

Detention risk or dialogue opportunity

Some experts on North Korea believe the threat of detention remains, and so should the restriction.

Former President Bill Clinton claps as former Vice President Al Gore hugs Laura Ling and Euna Lee smiles with joy. Clinton and the two California journalists whose freedom he helped secure from prison in North Korea arrived at what's now called Hollywood Burbank Airport on Aug. 5, 2009.

Some previous detentions have required former presidents, including Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton , to travel to North Korea to secure their release and bring them home.

Ruggiero doesn't think allowing people-to-people exchanges will help persuade the government of Kim Jong Un to give up its nuclear weapons and missiles programs.

Other observers argue that reopening travel could be a start.

Jasper attended a meeting recently where several civic groups tried to persuade administration officials to lift the ban.

North Koreans on a bus hold hands of their South Korean relatives to bid farewell after the separated family reunion meeting at the Mount Kumgang resort on Aug. 26, 2018, in Mount Kumgang, North Korea.

Opening up helps to seek closure

Although official visitor figures for North Korea are hard to find, one tour operator estimated as many as 1,000 Americans went annually, according to news reports before the ban took effect.

One of the lucky ones who made it was Choon Lim. He was born in Nampo, North Korea, and fled to South Korea during the war. He later settled in Chicago.

In 1998, he visited North Korea hoping to find his father, but discovered he had died six years before.

When it came time for Lim to pour an offering of liquor before his father's ashes, he froze for an instant, that felt like an eternity.

"All those 47 years, what I have experienced, how I lived, how we lived in the South, all those things came down through my head. And I collapsed. I couldn't do it," remembers Lim, who is 75.

Lim later returned to North Korea several times with other Korean American families.

"I worked for helping separated family members visiting North Korea," he says, "because every one of the separated families should have the same kind of a closure that I had."

Waiting for a peaceful resolution

He says the travel ban is causing unnecessary suffering, and removing it would be "making a contribution to a kind of peaceful resolution between the U.S. and North Korea."

Se Eun Gong contributed to this story from Seoul and Michele Kelemen from Washington, D.C.

Argument: Should You Go to North Korea While You Still Can?

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This article was published more than 6 years ago

Should You Go to North Korea While You Still Can?

Showing a human face to the world's most isolated people may be worth the cost of traveling to pyongyang..

United States
North Korea

Each year, roughly 1,000 American tourists visit North Korea. That amounts to a fifth of the total number of Western travelers who annually head to one of the world’s most inaccessible countries — a place where Americans are regularly decried by the government as “bastards” and “wolves.” Now the flow of tourists is about to fall to zero.

Beginning this Friday, per State Department decree , U.S. passport holders will be barred from entering North Korea. Following several lengthy detentions of Americans in recent years, including college student Otto Warmbier, which resulted in his death in June, and amid ongoing tension stemming from North Korean weapons testing, the State Department stated that travel to the country presented “serious risk” and “imminent danger to the physical safety of United States nationals.” The decision is being put forth as a measure to ensure Americans’ safety amid worsening relations between Washington and Pyongyang.

But considerations of personal safety aside, tourism to North Korea has always involved complicated moral calculations — calculations that the State Department’s decision has forestalled but not solved. Supporters say exposure to foreign tourists represents one of the only opportunities for North Koreans to engage with the outside world. “Peace is achieved by building bridges between people and increasing trust,” read a recent New York Times op-ed . “With no official channels of communication, closing the door on citizen engagement shuts down prospects for diplomacy.”

Critics, however, say in addition to the risk of detention and the hard currency that tours provide to North Korea’s leaders, the interaction with North Koreans is too controlled and superficial to have any meaningful impact — and may even have harmful effects. “[Visitors] are allowed to interact only with their minders,” read one Washington Post op-ed , likening North Korean tourism to “torture porn.”

As with most moral quandaries, the truth is somewhere in between.

There are plenty of reasons for the more dour assessment. Independent travel to North Korea is not permitted, so those wanting to visit must book a tour through a travel agency that works with North Korean counterparts. Tourists are then taken only to preapproved locations in a handful of cities and accompanied at all times by North Korean guides (or, as critics describe them, “minders”).

“North Korea goes out of its way to make it hard for foreigners and locals to cross paths,” said Jean H. Lee, a global fellow at the Wilson Center who opened the Associated Press’s Pyongyang bureau in 2012 and frequently reported from inside the country. “That said, there are moments when tours do intersect with ordinary North Koreans. Though very brief, those interactions are valuable.”

For most casual travelers, the deepest interactions they’ll have with North Koreans are with their guides, who are often educated abroad and can fluently speak English or other foreign languages.

Jess Harling, a 25-year-old Briton who traveled to North Korea in 2015-2016 with Young Pioneer Tours and documented the trip on her blog Jess Travels, recalled many endearing conversations with her guides in which they discussed their families, hobbies, Shakespeare, what life in Britain is like, and even what types of men they find attractive. “I would like to think that during discussions like these, they were being open and honest with me and I was getting to know at least a bit of their true personality,” Harling said, noting that she consciously avoided touching on political topics. “Of course, these people do not represent the entire nation. These are the elite few. This is something you have to always keep in mind as a tourist here.”

Lee said the charm North Korean guides display is no accident. “It’s their job to leave a good impression on the tourists,” she said. “They’re doing [public relations] for their country.”

But it would be a mistake to think minders can stage-manage the entirety of a trip. In addition to the conversations with her guides, Harling recalled several other more spontaneous interactions with ordinary North Koreans: playing catch with teenagers she happened upon in a public square, chatting through a translator and posing for photos with girls on roller skates.

“The oft-repeated view that you can only interact with who ‘they’ want you to interact with is lazy and untrue,” said Simon Cockerell, the general manager of the British-run Koryo Tours. “No matter how successful we are at [facilitating interactions with North Koreans], some people will think that everyone’s an actor — that the entire subway is fake, that if you go to a park, all 5,000 people there were hired just for you.”

Cockerell added that the Americans on his tours tend to be the boldest about approaching North Koreans, are the most memorable to them, and get the most out of the trip. “State media portrays Americans as almost literal devils — as rapacious and bloodthirsty demons who exist almost entirely to prey on Korea and its people,” he said. “ Because [North Koreans] have such a low image of all foreigners, but mostly Americans, you can’t help but make a tiny net gain for your country as an American if you just go there, interact with people, and don’t murder them. Most people can manage that.”

He noted that opportunities for spontaneous interaction are best during holidays and when there’s good weather — times when the country’s small but growing middle class comes out en masse. Foreign tourists in Pyongyang are taken to several locations where there are anywhere from dozens to thousands of North Koreans out and about, including public squares, fairs, parks, and bars. Even in smaller cities, travelers have occasional opportunities to intersect with locals, and guides often give their guests substantial leeway to approach them.

Andrea Lee, the co-founder and CEO of Uri Tours, says language is the main barrier to communication. For this reason, she says Uri advocates “experimental and active” tours that allow interaction with locals in ways that don’t require words — like running in the Pyongyang Marathon, surfing, or skiing. Several tour agencies have even facilitated sports-centered trips allowing foreigners to play basketball, hockey, soccer, or Ultimate Frisbee with locals. “These activities bring people closer together using a common thread of interest,” Lee said.

But for those who can speak Korean, she says, it is possible to have more meaningful conversations. “It takes a few interactions in order to get past superficial conversations,” she said. “But once you do, North Koreans prove to be loyal, warm, and hospitable people.”

Lee recalled once being approached by a child who said hello to her. After learning that she spoke the language and was ethnically Korean but grew up in the United States, he asked, “Don’t they kill you there if you are Korean?”

“I responded and said no — that I grew up there,” Lee said. “That my entire family lives there and that we are happy. I could tell that was a lot to process, but I believe it will help to shape his worldview.”

But some critics say putting faith in these encounters sells North Koreans short. “That view basically thinks of North Koreans as being automatons and robots — that they’re accepting propaganda as 100 percent truth,” said Benjamin Young, a North Korea analyst who twice traveled to the country in 2012 on an academic program but now looks back at his “pro-engagement” attitude at the time as “naive.” “I think the average North Korean knows that Americans aren’t dirty, evil, corrupt humans and that their No. 1 goal isn’t to kill them. North Koreans are more complex than that.”

Young also questions the value of interactions with guides. He said that some are “great” and that “you can really feel that they want North Korea to change.” But others he found to be more hostile. And at the end of the day, he says, they are among the country’s most elite with little reason to challenge the status quo.

Joshua Stanton, an attorney who helped draft the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016 and runs the One Free Korea blog , also scoffed at the idea that tourists’ limited interactions can serve to open North Korean minds in opposition to the propaganda they’ve been brought up with. “This must be the most patronizing form of Orientalism I’ve ever heard. I’ve never seen a shred of evidence to prove it,” he said. “Aren’t North Koreans more likely to see foreigners bowing to statutes of Kim Il Sung or being ushered through political monuments glorifying their totalitarian state?”

Foreign tourists in Pyongyang who are taken to the statues or embalmed bodies of North Korea’s leaders are expected to bow before them, often with locals looking on. Hyeonseo Lee, a North Korean defector who escaped to China in 1997 and eventually settled in South Korea, has criticized travel to the country for this reason. “Tourists are used as propaganda,” she told the Guardian in 2015. “[These images are used by] propagandists to show North Koreans that foreigners come from all over the world to pay homage to the Dear Leader.”

Stanton and Young both argue that a more effective approach to countering North Korean propaganda about foreigners and the United States is to improve broadcasts and information dissemination operations into the country. For years, activists and governments have been sending in foreign media like TV shows, movies, music, and counter-propaganda through DVDs, SD cards, USB drives, radio broadcasts, and balloon drops. This is on top of a thriving black market for such foreign materials facilitated by cross-border trade (both legal and illicit) with China. One survey of North Korean defectors found that 92 percent had watched a foreign DVD at some point when they lived in North Korea.

But another facet to the debate is the influence that travel to North Korea has on the Western tourists themselves. For Briton Andray Abrahamian, his first tour to North Korea sparked an interest that would lead to a career of engaging with the country. “Tourist travel is highly controlled and restricted, but they can’t hide everything, and the control itself is instructive,” he said. “It’s one thing to read about it, but to see the caution and control that people exercise over themselves in person had a profound impact on me.”

Abrahamian went on to join Choson Exchange , a nonprofit organization that trains North Koreans within the country and in Singapore in entrepreneurship and economic policy, where he’s now a senior advisor. “[That first trip] made me think that the country was more complicated than I’d thought and that there were unexplored spaces in which positive changes could be encouraged,” he said.

Young says he’s in favor of humanitarian engagement with North Korea through such nonprofits. “But I don’t think tourism to North Korea lends itself to becoming humanitarian,” he said. “I admire the idealism [of those who travel to engage with North Koreans], but on the other hand I think what they want to do is not actually what they’re accomplishing.”

Stanton also challenges the idea that North Koreans’ thinking is brought closer in sync with the outside world through interaction with tourists. On the contrary, he says, the highly controlled tours tend to bring foreigners closer toward North Korea’s moral and ideological stances. “Engagement never seems to compromise Pyongyang but always seems to compromise those who engage with it,” he said.

Lee of the Wilson Center noted that foreign tourists do indeed get a very sanitized view of North Korea, “which is just what the North Koreans want.”

“It takes many visits, and for long stretches, before you can begin to understand what you’re seeing,” she added. “It’s like peeling the layers of an onion. Frankly, American tourists weren’t providing much insight for us [when they returned to] the outside world.”

Sokeel Park, the director of research and strategy at Liberty in North Korea, a nonprofit that aides North Korean refugees, was cautiously positive about the approach.

“Basically, tourism is not a game-changer either way, but North Korean friends have on the whole been positive about it — it is exposure to foreigners and something of the outside world, after all, [that] can trigger some questions and new thinking.”

Joseph Kim, a North Korean who escaped to China in 2006 at age 15 and now lives in the United States, says the fact that tourism money likely helps support the government is a major drawback of travel to North Korea and that tourists should avoid it if their only goal is to say they’ve been to the isolated state. However, he does see value in travel there on the grounds that it gives outsiders a better sense of North Koreans’ humanity. “I understand they’re not going to meet homeless people in the tourist areas,” he told me in a 2015 interview. “But it will give them a much better picture than what they see in the Western media. They’ll be able to see what North Koreans do in daily life, even though it’s a small proportion of them.”

“There are pros and cons,” Kim added. “So I can’t say it’s totally wrong or totally right.”

Photo credit: ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images

Eric Fish is a journalist and author of the book China's Millennials.

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Are Americans allowed to travel to North Korea?

Kevin Quinitchett
Published : 11:35 ET, Jul 19 2023
Updated : 11:49 ET, Jul 19 2023

POLITICAL differences are present between the United States and North Korea.

The American government highly advises its citizens not to travel to the communist latter.

The US government warns American citizens to "exercise increased caution" when attempting to travel to North Korea

Although it is possible for Americans to travel to North Korea , the US government strongly recommends not doing so.

On October 5, 2022, the US reissued a Level 4 travel advisory to warn its citizens against visiting North Korea.

US passports are considered invalid when attempting to visit North Korea.

In order to travel to the latter, an American citizen's passport must be specially validated by the US government.

What to know about detained soldier Travis King

What to know about Otto Warmbier's North Korea detainment

When the individual is specially granted a passport to go to North Korea, it is valid for one round trip.

"Do not travel to North Korea due to the continuing serious risk of arrest and long-term detention of U.S. nationals," warns the American government.

"Exercise increased caution to North Korea due to the critical threat of wrongful detention.

"The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in North Korea as it does not have diplomatic or consular relations with North Korea.

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"Sweden serves as the protecting power for the United States in North Korea, providing limited emergency services.

"The North Korean government routinely delays or denies Swedish officials access to detained U.S. citizens."

Which Americans have been detained in North Korea?

The North Korean detainment of US soldier Travis King and college student Otto Warmbier serve as cautionary tales against traveling to the communist nation.

On June 19, 2017, Warmbier died from a lack of oxygen to the brain after the North Korean government returned him to the US from his imprisonment.

If an American citizen is imprisoned in North Korea, the US government has limited options

Other American citizens who have been imprisoned by the North Korean government include:

Bruce Byron Lowrance
Kim Dong-chul
Kim Hak-song
Kenneth Bae
Matthew Todd Miller
Robert Park
Aijalon Mahli Gomes
Evan Hunziker

In most of the cases mentioned above, the citizen was detained by North Korea and sentenced to several years of hard labor.

What is the history between the US and North Korea?

Relations between the US and North Korea have been tense since the Korean War.

During the war, North and South Korea fought one another until the Korean Armistice Agreement was reached on July 27, 1953.

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The North was supported by fellow Communist countries China and the Soviet Union .

Meanwhile, the South found allies in the US and the United Kingdom .

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US Explainers
North Korea
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PHOTOGRAPHY

These Are the Last Americans to Visit North Korea

Before the United States banned travelers from visiting the closed nation, a small group rushed to get there for one last tour.

For all of its restrictive laws, its harsh ruler, and its reputation as the Hermit Kingdom, North Korea has long been open to visitors. For years, Chinese tour companies have brought foreigners into the country—including roughly 1,000 Americans per year—for a curated tour of daily North Korean life. Americans have been able to spend time at North Korean amusement parks, schools, and subway stations. Almost all left without incident.

a A traffic policeman in Kaesong, North Korea.

But that changed after the June 19 death of Otto Warmbier, the American student detained in Pyongyang for stealing a poster from a hotel. Citing Warmbier’s inhumane treatment––and amid the country’s deteriorating relationship with Washington over the regime’s nuclear weapons ambitions––the U.S. State Department restricted all U.S. passports from being used to travel to North Korea. (The regime called the ban a “vile measure.”)

Before the new travel ban took effect on September 1, photojournalist David Guttenfelder joined a group of six American tourists eager to see inside the world’s most secretive nation. For almost 20 years, Guttenfelder has been one of the few western journalists allowed inside North Korea, making nearly 50 trips, some while on assignment for National Geographic, to document its political and military situation.

All of the travelers said they were motivated by intense curiosity. Brad Yoon, an Uber driver from California, had never traveled abroad before; he told his parents he was going to China so they wouldn’t worry. Amy Kang, a Korean-American, went with her husband in hopes of learning about her heritage. “It was completely different from anything I was expecting,” Kang said. After all the horror stories she had heard about the repressive regime and the widespread lack of freedoms, she was surprised to find in Pyongyang an element of normality: people who had jobs, families, and who could name their favorite American movies.

Of course, being a tourist meant staying in a bubble of predictability and calm. There were no sudden movements, no surprises.

There were planned visits to a grocery store, a bowling alley, a brewery, and a circus. No one mentioned the country’s nuclear threats, or Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Un’s war of words with U.S. President Donald Trump. When the North Korean military launched a missile over Japan in late August that drew international rebuke, Guttenfelder learned of it on Twitter via his cell phone’s limited wireless coverage. No one else around him, including his handlers, had any idea.

One could, however, sense the tension of potential military conflict. Guttenfelder, who has visited North Korea during four presidential administrations, observed that in the Trump era, the people seemed to be tense, but not as tense as he'd seen in the past. On the roads there were more propaganda billboards than usual bashing the United States. At a children's play place in the airport, an old piece of art showing children building missiles out of blocks seemed to fit the current tensions.

The tour included a visit to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the area straddling the 38th Parallel where North and South Korean soldiers traditionally stare stone-faced at each other across a courtyard bisecting North and South.

The threat of war at any moment has always kept the two militaries prepared to fight. But to the American tourists, the impending travel ban also brought an urgency to buy keepsakes. At various stores selling trinkets, the Americans and other foreign tourists clamored over stamps, art, ginseng products, and North Korean alcohol. One especially popular souvenir: anti-American propaganda posters.

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Disclosures

How to Visit North Korea’s DMZ Border (Updated 2023)

A s controversial a place as North Korea is, it's swiftly gaining attention from the curious tourist eye. Our intrigue to see it was piqued during a visit to Seoul with friends. Having now taken the DMZ tour ourselves, this highly informative if not haunting experience is one we would highly recommend . So, if you've got guts and a desire to get a snippet into one of the most closed countries on earth, here's how to do it!

Getting there & where to stay

First, you need to get yourself to Seoul, which is the nearest major city to the DMZ border. South Korea is only reachable by flight, with most planes flying into Incheon International Airport. Use Skyscanner and search by entire month to see the cheapest dates to fly. Be sure to check our flight booking hacks here to get yourself the best price. And don't forget to book your airport transfer and a 4G Data SIM card before you land!

A fast way to get a big discount on your flight is to sign up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card. This card offers a massive sign-up bonus of 60,000 bonus points (worth $750 ) after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. United and Singapore Airlines are both partner airlines of this card, and both offer flights to Seoul, meaning you can convert your points to these airline loyalty programs, or just book directly through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Seoul is a buzzing megacity with plenty of enticing accommodation options. There are plentiful AirBNBs and hotel selections, but be sure to reserve ahead in peak season. Some convenient neighbourhood options include Hongdae, Itaewon, Myeongdong, Gangnam, and Jamsil. Check TripAdvisor for more local tips and advice.

There is plenty to explore in Seoul itself, and a local guide can help ensure you catch the best of the best. Be sure to check out the Gyeongbok Palace & Temple , or grab the Seoul Pass , which grants free entry to 65 attractions and discounted entry to 101 more.

How to visit North Korea's DMZ Border:

Step 1. choose your points of interest.

There are several companies that operate DMZ tours. As much as I despise group tours, you can only visit the DMZ with a tour , as it has restricted civilian access and requires a mandatory military escort.

No two tours are the same, but you should choose one based on your budget, customer reviews, and points of interest that are included. Tours can be browsed with reviews, prices, and instant confirmation through Klook , GetYourGuide and Viator . The main highlights to select from are as follows:

The Joint Security Area (JSA)

Located in Panmunjom, the JSA is the closest point a tourist can get to North Korea . At this spot, you'll have a chance to physically stand in North Korea itself and take a photo as proof (more on that below). This area is occupied by the South Korean and US military, and is complete with a gift shop selling original items from North Korea, including stamps, money, and wine (which in our experience tastes like nail polish remover and turpentine but hey, at least you can say you tried it).

NOTE: As of 2023, the JSA is still closed to visitors due to COVID, and is not included in any tours.

Odusan Unification Observatory

One can safely view day-to-day life in North Korea without setting foot in the country at Mt Odu Observatory. Binoculars (free of charge) provide ultra zoomed up views of North Korea opposite the Han river below. On our visit we were able to see civilians walking around on the other side.

Infiltration Tunnels

Scarily enough, around the time that the North and South were having peace talks, North Korea began digging underground tunnels to infiltrate the South. They were never completed, but were discovered in 1984. The longest tunnel is 1,082 metres. The 3rd tunnel is the closest to Seoul (only 44km away) and could move ~30,000 troops and artillery per hour.

Dora Observatory

This observatory offers binocular views of North Korea's fake town, Kijong-dong. The town was first built in the 1950's to lure South Koreans to defect and move across the border. From visual observations from the South, it has been uninhabited with windowless, incomplete buildings since its construction.

Dora Observatory is so named after Dorasan the mountain on which it sits. The nearest train station has a fully completed train line that runs to Pyongyang. Though the North cooperated in its completion, it was never used. It is hoped that when re-unification is reached, the train line will be used to connect the two Koreas.

Freedom Bridge

The Freedom Bridge connects North and South Korea, though a massive barricade blocks entry to the connecting point over the river. If the two sides are ever connected, this bridge could be used to enter and exit North Korea.

Step 2. Select a tour

Once you've decided on your must-see highlights (as listed above), you can select a tour.

There are traditional tour companies to choose from, which are listed at the end of this article along with prices and contact information, but it's much easier to book tours online with Klook , GetYourGuide and Viator . You pay in advance and get fast confirmation, so all you need to do is bring your voucher to the tour. There are reviews, photos, and videos that make choosing the right tour simple. The traditional companies require back and forth e-mail or phone communication when booking direct, so Klook , GetYourGuide and Viator are convenient ways to avoid all that hassle.

One of the most popular tours is this day tour on Klook , with more than 50,000 bookings. This is the tour most of our readers have chosen, and is the tour we would select today. Our trip was now several years ago, and at the time we took the Special Panmunjom Tour by Panmunjeom Travel Center which does not visit the tunnels but goes to Odu Observatory and the JSA. This tour offered the chance to speak with a North Korean refugee (defector). This allowed us to learn about how people escape the North, how they adapt to life afterwards, and what knowledge they have of the outside world living in North Korea.

Get $10 USD off your first Klook purchase with coupon code THRIFTY10 (minimum spend $120 USD, new users only)

Here are some of the top-rated tours that can be booked online:

South Korea Demilitarized Zone Half-Day Tour (Bestseller)

From Seoul: Half-Day Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) Tour

DMZ Past and Present: Korean Demilitarized Zone Tour from Seoul

Step 3. take ( lots of ) photos of north korea.

Much of the road towards the JSA border runs parallel to the Han River, which separates the two countries. It's nothing short of unique to be sitting in a bus with views of North Korea passing by out your window.

The binoculars at the Dora and Odu observatory provide ultra zoomed views of North Korea. One can even see North Korean civilians walking around on the other side, as we did during our visit at Odu . At Dora Observatory, North Korea's fake town, Kijong-dong, is viewed.

Step 4. Cross the border into North Korea

On a tension-free day at the JSA, one can legally take a step into North Korea. But how and why ?

The blue buildings pictured below are UN Command neutral zones. Midway, the inside of these blue buildings cross the North/South Korea border. Inside the building on the right (UNCMAC) is where meetings between the two countries are housed.

If you want photo evidence that you physically stood in North Korea, this can be done . You can pose with a South Korean soldier within North Korea at the back of the UNCMAC room. Be warned though (and you will be), if you cross through the door behind you, no one is responsible for your safety as you'll be alone and in North Korea.

Important Points About DMZ Tours

Many tours require reservation 2-5 days in advance , so check ahead.
If visiting the JSA, you must sign a waiver agreeing that no one is responsible for accident, injury, or even death . Take comfort in the fact that these tours are done every day and you are accompanied by military escorts at the border!
You must bring your passport for most tours , and it is checked by army personnel on arrival at the JSA.
You must adhere to the specified dress code (e.g. no ripped jeans, sandals, or unkempt hair). These rules are strictly enforced as North Korean soldiers take photos and produce false propaganda that other countries are too poor to afford proper clothing.
Tours can end unexpectedly at any time if tensions rise at the border . That means you are not be guaranteed to step into the UNCMAC at the JSA, nor is it certain you'll get a photo across the border.

In Summary…

Partaking in the DMZ tour allows yourself to gain much more depth on a humanitarian crisis that the world does not know enough about. If you have the chance to do this trip, I'd highly recommend it.

Tour Companies & Pricing

Alternatively, you can contact one of the tour companies below directly and book with them.

Panmunjeom Travel Center Website : www.panmunjomtour.com Telephone : +82-2-771-5593 (Korean, English, Japanese) Price : 80,000-77,000 won (~$60-$77 USD). All tours include lunch. Note : Tours offered in Korean, English, and Japanese. This is the only company that allows you to meet a North Korean defector/refugee, ask them questions, and better understand the human rights issues of North Korea.

VIP Travel Website: http://www.vviptravel.com/eng/ Telephone: 02-739-3501 ext. 4 Price: 55,000-135,000 won ($48 – $120 USD). Most tours include lunch. Notes: Tours offered in English, Japanese, Chinese. None of the tours include any forced shopping stops.

Koridoor Website : www.koridoor.co.kr Telephone : 02-6383-2570 ext. 2 Price : 43-89,000 won (~$41-$80 USD). Most tours include lunch. Notes : Tours offered in English.

JSA Tour Website : www.jsatour.com Telephone : +82-2-2266-3350 Price : 85,000-120,000 won (~$85-$120 USD). All tours include lunch. Notes : Tours offered in Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese.

DMZ Spy Tour Website : www.dmzspytour.com Telephone : +82-10-3950-8350 Price: 88,000-114,000 won (~$88-$114 USD). Tours include lunch. Notes : Tours offered in Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese.

International Culture Service Club Website : www.tourdmz.com Telephone : +82-2-755-0073 Price : 65,000-85,000 won (~$65-$85 USD). All tours include lunch. Notes : Tours offered in Korean, English and Japanese. This is the only company that does Saturday tours.

Seoul City Tour Website : www.seoulcitytour.net Telephone : +82-2-774-3345 Price: 40,000-125,000 won (~$40-$125 USD). Only some tours include lunch. Notes : Tours are offered in Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese.

KTB Tour Website : www.go2korea.co.kr Telephone : +82-2-778-0150 Price : 65,000-130,000 won (~$65-$130 USD). All tours include lunch. Notes : Tours offered in Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese.

DMZ & JSA Tour (Professional Guide Service / Celebrity's choice Agency) Website : www.cosmojin.com Telephone : +82-2-318-0345 (Korean, English, Japanese), +82-2-318-0425 (Chinese) Price : 46,000 won (~$46 USD) for half-day tour, 87,000 won (~$87 USD) for full day tour. Lunch included on full day tour. Notes : Tours offered in Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese.

Thrifty Nomads has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Thrifty Nomads and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions expressed here are author's alone. Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

You guys are so brave! This makes me a bit nervous and I’m not sure I would be able to do it!

The link to the GetYourGuide tour you provided doesn’t work. Do you have an updated link by any chance? Thank you!

Opinion: I’m banned from visiting my family in North Korea. When will the U.S. change this policy?

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My grandfather rarely spoke, except through his saxophone. He was a man of few words but a lot of heart. I can’t pinpoint when exactly I learned that he was born in what is now called North Korea, but I do remember thinking, “I’m too old to be learning this for the first time.” Like thousands of Korean Americans, my family is still divided by the ongoing war in Korea and the current U.S. travel ban to North Korea.

On Tuesday, the State Department announced that the Biden administration will extend the travel ban to North Korea for another year. This draconian ban was initially instituted in 2017 under former President Trump and prevents thousands of Korean Americans from reuniting with family in North Korea. Americans can still use their U.S. passports to visit some countries with travel restrictions, such as Cuba and Iran . But no U.S. passport is valid for travel to North Korea . Instead, U.S. citizens must apply for a totally separate “special validation passport .” The State Department has unfettered discretion as to whether it grants this passport, and does so only in exceedingly exceptional circumstances.

Before 2017, thousands of U.S. citizens traveled to North Korea , many of them Korean Americans seeking to reunite with family from whom they became separated during the Korean War. The State Department made this decision despite the repeated urging of activists to lift this inhumane ban.

People watch a TV screen showing a news program reporting about North Korea's missile launch with file footage, at a train station in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, May 4, 2022. North Korea has launched a ballistic missile toward its eastern waters on Wednesday, South Korean and Japanese officials said, days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to bolster his nuclear arsenal "at the fastest possible pace" and threatened to use them against rivals. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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My paternal grandfather fled North Korea during the war and lived the rest of his life separated from his siblings and family members. Decades after this separation, he participated in an effort coordinated by a nongovernmental organization to reunite split Korean families when travel to North Korea was still permitted prior to 2017. In North Korea, he was shown a faded photograph of his elementary Sunday school class to verify that he was, in fact, related to family members with whom he sought to reunite. My grandfather failed to recognize his younger self in this photograph but recognized his teacher. This happenstance recognition permitted him to meet his sister, from whom he had been separated for nearly 50 years. He was able to meet her children for the first time and learned that his younger brother had passed away.

Our family has otherwise remained divided.

For years, I hesitated to look at photographs of our relatives in North Korea because I was afraid of what I’d feel. To even dream about the possibility of lifting this travel ban felt frightening because fighting for change would open me up to heartbreak. I have been tempted to settle into pessimism and dismiss attempts for change as naive. An elder Korean peace activist described this tendency as “so Korean”: to break my own heart before anyone else could break it for me. She counseled me instead to engage in peace advocacy and learn from intergenerational Koreans from across the diaspora who have kept the fight aflame for decades .

If it weren’t for the wise council of elders who map movements in lifetimes, this week’s announcement would have been another reason for pessimism. However, we must remember that we in the U.S. — especially Korean Americans ( gyopo ) — have an important role to play. In the days before his election, President Biden pledged “to reunite Korean Americans separated from loved ones in North Korea for decades .” But his administration has yet to make good on that promise. Biden instead escalates militarization and hurtles us closer to nuclear conflict, sending nuclear-capable submarines to Korea for the first time in 42 years . He also recently convened a trilateral summit with South Korea and Japan , further entrenching an escalatory militarized approach illustrated by this week’s large-scale “Ulchi Freedom Shield” war drills which involved the participation of 12 countries total .

Activists have been fighting against this alarming militarization and forever war-making, including through a congressional bill, the Peace on the Korean Peninsula Act . This bill calls for urgent diplomacy in pursuit of a peace agreement to formally end the Korean War and urges the State Department to review and revise its travel restrictions. While the majority of the U.S. public supports the peace process in Korea, it is up to constituents to ensure our elected officials reflect this. Currently, 34 members of Congress are co-sponsors of the Peace on the Korean Peninsula Act, and through our advocacy , we can grow this number.

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On the 70th anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement last month, scholars and activists gathered to call for a peace agreement to formally end the Korean War . Among them, Dr. Kee Park, a faculty member at Harvard Medical School, decried the current sanctions imposed on North Korea by the U.S., U.N. and others as deadly and “immoral.” Park has traveled to North Korea over 20 times, and said Korean Americans must act as a bridge from our community to the general U.S. public .

While the two Korean governments have facilitated a handful of brief “reunions” between residents of South and North Korea, Korean Americans have been left out of this process entirely. This U.S.-imposed travel ban is unjust and inhumane. For Korean Americans, we cannot heal this intergenerational pain until this travel ban is lifted. We must strategize, organize and educate our communities to ensure that this draconian ban is not renewed again.

Cathi Choi is the director of policy and organizing for Women Cross DMZ and co-coordinator of Korea Peace Now! Grassroots Network. She is based in Los Angeles. @CathiSChoi

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Aug. 15, 2023

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10 Countries Americans CAN’T Travel To Easily

Posted: March 12, 2024 | Last updated: March 12, 2024

<p><span>International travel can be an enriching experience, but it has risks. Safety is paramount, especially for American travelers who often find themselves in unfamiliar geopolitical terrain. The U.S. State Department’s Advisory System is a resource to help American citizens plan for safe international travel. </span></p> <p><span>It assesses the risks in various countries and provides guidelines for travel safety. The advisories range from Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) to Level 4 (Do Not Travel), depending on the severity of the situation in that country. When traveling to high-risk areas, it’s essential to register</span> <span>with the <a href="https://step.state.gov/" rel="noopener">State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program</a> (STEP).</span></p>

Wanderlust is an itch that compels many of us to reach for the horizon, cross borders, and truly explore our world. But if you’re an American, the world map might just have a few red marks on it.

There are places where Uncle Sam’s passport won’t open as many doors, or any, for reasons ranging from international politics to simple logistics. This isn’t meant to discourage adventure but to highlight some unique areas requiring more planning or patience.

North Korea

Shrouded in secrecy and often the crux of international tensions, North Korea is a place most Americans could not visit if they wanted to. Only a select few Americans have had the chance, mainly for guided tour purposes. The strict visa application process, accompanied by limited travel, is ostensibly due to safety concerns and the nation’s political climate.

According to the U.S. Department of State , all U.S. passports are invalid for travel to, in, or through the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) unless specially validated for such travel under the authority of the Secretary of State. Still, with its vast landscapes and the enigma of daily life, North Korea draws curious, albeit restricted, eyes from the outside world.

<p><span>Travel to Syria is restricted for U.S. citizens due to the ongoing civil war, violence, and terrorism, which have greatly diminished the government’s ability to protect citizens. The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Syria as diplomatic ties remain severed.</span></p><p><span>The resurgence of ISIS and the ongoing fighting between government and non-governmental forces present significant risks, including the threat of hostage-taking, shelling, aerial and terrorist attacks, and other violent confrontations.</span></p>

In the land of ancient cities and stunning landscapes, a devastating civil war has rendered tourism not only impossible but tragically destructive. Once a bustling hub of history and culture, Syria ‘s ongoing conflict has left many sites in ruins, including the UNESCO World Heritage city of Aleppo. We can only hope peace returns to this beautiful country and its welcoming people.

<p>For decades, the island nation of Cuba has been notoriously restricted for American travelers due to political tensions between the two countries. However, with eased restrictions in recent years, it is now possible for Americans to visit Cuba under specific categories, including family visits, educational activities, and humanitarian projects. However, even with these changes, tourism remains limited and heavily regulated.</p>

For decades, the island nation of Cuba has been notoriously restricted for American travelers due to political tensions between the two countries. However, with eased restrictions in recent years, it is now possible for Americans to visit Cuba under specific categories, including family visits, educational activities, and humanitarian projects. However, even with these changes, tourism remains limited and heavily regulated.

<p><span>U.S. citizens should not travel to Iran, the State Department advises, due to the risk of arbitrary arrest and detention on charges of espionage or working to overthrow the government. Relations between the U.S. and Iran have been contentious, resulting in a heightened threat of criminal targeting or terrorist actions against Americans.</span></p><p><span>Tensions in the Gulf region persist, fueling the potential for military conflict or heightened security concerns that could threaten American travelers. Dual nationals and those with links to Western countries are particularly at risk of detention and espionage charges.</span></p>

Often misunderstood and with an international reputation more complicated than a Rubik’s cube, Iran is a country of warm people, intricate culture, and stunning landscapes. Yet, due to complex visa requirements, direct obstacles put in place by both governments and political tensions, many Americans cannot experience Persia’s ancient charm.

The Department of State advises against travel to Iran for U.S. citizens, citing risks of terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and the arbitrary arrest of American nationals.

Turkmenistan

In the heart of Central Asia, the golden domes of Turkmenistan might as well be guarded by dragons as far as most Americans are concerned. The application process alone is enough to make the toughest traveler quail, with letters of invitation and a no-small list of documents needed. But with the Silk Road history, fiery crater (the “Door to Hell”), and the marble city of Ashgabat, it’s a world of wonders waiting for those who dare.

<p>Shrouded in prayer flags and Himalayan mist, Bhutan is often seen as an untouched Shangri-La. But to enter this kingdom of Gross National Happiness, American tourists must book their visit through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator at a minimum daily spend. The pricey tag aims to regulate tourism and preserve the nation’s traditions, environment, and identity. It is a high price to pay but remember, with great cost often comes great experience.</p>

Shrouded in prayer flags and Himalayan mist, Bhutan is often seen as an untouched Shangri-La. But to enter this kingdom of Gross National Happiness, American tourists must book their visit through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator at a minimum daily spend. The pricey tag aims to regulate tourism and preserve the nation’s traditions, environment, and identity. It is a high price to pay but remember, with great cost often comes great experience.

Saudi Arabia

A kingdom of contradictions, Saudi Arabia, has long been a country that most Americans could only experience through news headlines. However, in recent years, the conservative nation has opened its doors to international tourists by introducing tourist visas.

However, strict dress codes, limited alcohol availability, and other cultural norms may make this destination feel like quite a culture shock for some American travelers. The Department of State’s Travel Advisory states travelers should “reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia due to the threat of missile and drone attacks.

<p>The African nation of Eritrea might not be a household name, but its restrictive visa policies have drawn comparisons to the infamous regime of North Korea. Visitors can only enter through organized tours or with an official invitation, and even then, they must surrender their passports for their stay.</p><p>While this may seem extreme, Eritrea’s complex history and current political climate make it a challenging destination for outsiders. But those who journey are rewarded with stunning beaches, vibrant markets, and a unique blend of African and Middle Eastern cultures.</p>

The African nation of Eritrea might not be a household name, but its restrictive visa policies have drawn comparisons to the infamous regime of North Korea. Visitors can only enter through organized tours or with an official invitation, and even then, they must surrender their passports for their stay.

While this may seem extreme, Eritrea’s complex history and current political climate make it a challenging destination for outsiders. But those who journey are rewarded with stunning beaches, vibrant markets, and a unique blend of African and Middle Eastern cultures.

Libya’s tumultuous history and political climate have made it a challenging destination for travelers. The visa process is strict and unpredictable, requiring significant paperwork and potential delays.

But for those who can make the journey, the rewards are plentiful. From exploring the ancient ruins of Leptis Magna to experiencing the stark beauty of the Sahara desert, Libya offers a unique and often overlooked experience for those willing to take on its challenges. And with recent strides towards stability and safety, it may become a more accessible destination.

<p><span>Standing at Level 4, the highest advisory, the State Department warns against all travel to Venezuela due to crime, civil unrest, poor health infrastructure, and the arbitrary arrest and detention of U.S. citizens.</span></p><p><span>Americans in Venezuela have been detained and interrogated due to their nationality, contributing to an already guarded relationship between the two nations. The country’s political instability and hyperinflation have also led to widespread food shortages, medicine, and other goods, increasing social tensions and the potential for civil unrest.</span></p>

Once a popular destination for American travelers, Venezuela’s political and economic turmoil has resulted in the State Department issuing a Level 4 travel advisory – the highest possible warning level. With widespread violent crime and limited access to necessities, it is unfortunately not safe for most Americans to visit this once vibrant country at this time.

Navigating the country’s complex visa process can be just as varied. While some travelers may qualify for visa-free access or an easy-to-obtain tourist visa, others may face stricter requirements and potential delays.

<p>Once known for its spectacular Angel Falls and the vibrant Caribbean spirit of its locals, Venezuela’s appeal has been marred by severe economic instability and political unrest. Americans are particularly cautioned against travel to this South American nation, where escalating violence, food and medicine shortages, and widespread protests can turn a vacation into a dangerous predicament.</p>

Travel Advisory: 15 Countries Americans Should Not Travel To

Exploring the world is an enriching experience, but not every country matches American travelers due to crime, civil unrest, or terrorism. Before you don your explorer hat and pack your bags, it’s wise to know the spots that may not roll out the red carpet for U.S. tourists. Now, grab a snack, huddle close, and consider crossing these 15 off your travel bucket list — at least for now.

<p>Lost your passport? Or simply can’t find it in that mountain of paperwork at home? No need to panic! That’s right – your dream vacation is still within reach!</p><p><a href="https://frenzhub.com/no-passport-no-problem-countries-welcoming-you-freely-without-your-passport/" rel="noopener"><strong>No Passport? No Problem! 12 Countries Welcoming You Freely Without Your Passport</strong></a></p>

No Passport? No Problem! 12 Countries Welcoming You Freely Without Your Passport

Lost your passport? Or simply can’t find it in that mountain of paperwork at home? No need to panic! That’s right – your dream vacation is still within reach!

<p>Have you ever considered backpacking through Europe, soaking up the varied history, culture, and cuisine? You should steer clear of these 12 corners of the continent. Here’s a not-so-favorable rundown of Europe, from bad to downright terrible</p><p><a href="https://frenzhub.com/worst-european-countries-from-bad-to-terrible/" rel="noopener"><strong>12 Worst European Countries, From Bad to Terrible</strong></a></p>

12 Worst European Countries, From Bad to Terrible

Have you ever considered backpacking through Europe, soaking up the varied history, culture, and cuisine? You should steer clear of these 12 corners of the continent. Here’s a not-so-favorable rundown of Europe, from bad to downright terrible

<p>Embrace wanderlust! Imagine a world where you can pack a bag, book a flight, and explore magical sunsets and vibrant cultures without breaking the bank.</p><p><a href="https://savvyolu.com/affordable-countries-to-live-beyond-the-u-s/" rel="noopener"><strong>12 Incredibly Affordable Countries To Live Beyond the U.S.</strong></a></p>

12 Incredibly Affordable Countries To Live Beyond the U.S.

Embrace wanderlust! Imagine a world where you can pack a bag, book a flight, and explore magical sunsets and vibrant cultures without breaking the bank.

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South Korea Residents on Border With North Fear Spike in Tensions

Yoon Seol-hyun, who runs a guesthouse near the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, rests before an interview with Reuters in Paju, South Korea, June 5, 2024. REUTERS/Hyunyoung Yi

By Hyun Young Yi and Hyunsu Yim

PAJU, South Korea (Reuters) - When North Korea sent hundreds of balloons carrying trash over the border to South Korea last week, the move sparked emergency alerts and round-the-clock media coverage in its neighbour.

But while many South Koreans likely did not linger for too long on the incident, for residents living near the heavily fortified border, it was just the latest in a worrying rise in tensions between the Koreas.

"Some people consider it a problem for someone else's neighbourhood," said Yoon Seol-hyun, who owns a guesthouse and a travel agency in the border town of Paju, urging all South Koreans to pay attention and help do more to calm the situation.

Friction has been increasing as the South responded to the balloons by resuming military activities along the demarcation line. Seoul has not ruled out the return of loudspeakers to blast propaganda at the border with the North.

The border area is popular with local and foreign tourists keen to take a peek at the isolated North, but Yoon said his business in Paju, which is about 35 km (22 miles) north of the capital Seoul, had been hurt by the rise in tensions.

No Hyun-ki, 60, another Paju resident, is also worried about the recent tit-for-tat retaliation between the Koreas.

"Then there's no choice... but to have a sense of fear that North Korea's artillery might fly towards this place," said No, describing Paju as "the tensest city".

The two Koreas remain technically at war since an armistice agreement ended fighting in the 1950-1953 Korean War.

Their militaries face off across the inter-Korean border and North Korea has deployed missiles and rockets aimed at the South and routinely threatens to annihilate its neighbour.

North Korea has said it will suspend sending trash balloons but vowed to resume the practice if leaflets critical of the country were flown from the South again.

Nonetheless, North Korean defector and activist Park Sang-hak has vowed to keep sending balloons carrying anti-North Korean leaflets unless the North's leader Kim Jong Un apologises for his "wrongdoings".

Park could not immediately be reached for comment, but a statement on his civic group's website said it had sent 20 balloons carrying 300,000 leaflets and 2,000 USB cards containing K-pop and Korean dramas into the North in early May.

South Korea's Unification Ministry which handles relations with the North said in a statement it was monitoring the issue of sending leaflets over the border, though noted that the practice was protected by freedom of speech.

Sending anti-North Korean leaflets across the border has been controversial in South Korea, prompting at times clashes between activists and residents in border towns over the years.

"What residents in Paju will like such actions that escalate tensions?" said Yoon, who said he works with other locals to try to block balloon launches.

(Reporting by Hyun Young Yi and Dogyun Kim in Paju, and Hyunsu Yim in Seoul; Editing by Ed Davies and Alex Richardson)

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Tags: South Korea , North Korea

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Top 7 places you can't afford to miss in South Korea

Feb 20, 2024 • 6 min read

Two young women, from Poland and Israel, pause for a selfie while hiking the Gwaneumsa Trail in Hallasan National Park. Located on Jeju Island, Hallasan is the highest mountain in South Korea.

It may be small, but South Korea packs a punch, from supersonic cities to hiking on Jeju Island © Joel Carillet / Getty Images

Though it may be fun-size compared to its neighbors China and Russia, South Korea more than holds its own when it comes to incredible landscapes, cultural attractions and a dazzling food and nightlife scene.

In fact, South Korea's size paired with its ultra-reliable public transit system is what makes it all so accessible. Travelers can go from mountaintop to beachside or from village to megacity – and back again – in a single day. Not that we recommend rushing your journey – with so many unique places to visit, you could dedicate an entire trip to one spot. Start your travel to-do list now with our seven favorite places to visit in South Korea.

Best place for nightlife

Home to half of South Korea's population, Seoul is also the most popular city for tourists to visit. The capital has an electric vibe at any hour of the day or night. Between the city's low-key watering holes, high-end cocktail lounges and always-fun noraebang (karaoke bars), Seoul has something to offer every late-night reveler.

Some of the newest trendsetting bars are located in Euljiro, while many longstanding favorites are in the tried-and-true nightlife neighborhoods of Gangnam , Hongdae and Itaewon . Gangnam is where the most expensive clubs are concentrated, while Hongdae is a more affordable option for budget-conscious travelers and university students. Itaewon has a reputation for drawing an international crowd.

Various fish stalls and colourful umbrellas at Jagalchi Fish Market, Busan's most famous tourist attraction

Best place for maritime culture

Situated on the southern coast, South Korea's second city, Busan , overflows with a maritime culture as lively as it is varied. Setting the tone is Busan Port, the oldest and largest in the country (and also the sixth-busiest in the world), handling some 80% of South Korea's container cargo. The nearby Busan Modern History Museum tells the story of the port's pivotal role in South Korea's history. From there, up and down the coastline are any number of beautiful beaches, parks, observatories, villages and even a temple, Haedong Yonggungsa , one of the country's only oceanside temples.

At Jagalchi , South Korea's largest fish market, the day's catch is arranged in stall after stall of fish, eel, crabs, sea squirts, abalone, and more. Shoppers can select their seafood on the ground level and then take it up to one of the restaurants on the floors above, where the staff will expertly de-scale, de-shell, gut or filet and then cook it for you. For other scrumptious seafood bites, look for restaurants along the beach specializing in jogae gui , grilled shellfish served with a variety of dipping sauces like chogochujang (vinegar red pepper sauce), soy sauce with wasabi, and melted butter with onions.

3. Gyeongju

Best place to discover ancient treasures

As the capital of the Silla Kingdom, when the city was called Donggyeong ("eastern capital"), Gyeongju is a treasure trove of ancient relics, religious to royal. Gyeongju National Museum houses a fair number of them – including ornate jewelry, earthenware jars, prayer bells and Buddha statues – but even more artifacts lie beyond. Gyeongju is known as South Korea's museum without walls.

See the royal tombs of Tumuli-gongwon ; the oldest astrological observatory in East Asia, Cheomseongdae ; the Buddhist grotto of Seokguram ; the picturesque palace of Donggung; and the temple halls, pagodas and bridges of Bulguk-sa . Woljeonggyo, a covered wooden bridge with striking red columns, green roof beams and two end towers, might be the prettiest bridge in all of South Korea – even more so at night when it's illuminated with lights.

Best place for contemporary history

Regarded as the birthplace of Korean democracy, Gwangju was the site of the May 18 Democratic Uprising of 1980, the 10-day-long armed resistance against Chun Doo-hwan's authoritarian military regime. After the brutal repression of some 600 university student protesters, the people of Gwangju stood up and joined in rebellion, resulting in state massacre and torture. Despite the movement's suppression, it's seen as a turning point in South Korea's struggle for democracy.

To better understand this pivotal event in the country's history, go to the May 18th Memorial Park and National Cemetery . You can also take a walk down Chungjang-ro, a now-converted shopping and entertainment street that was once ground zero of the uprising.

Best place for beaches and waterfalls

South of the Korean mainland in the Yellow Sea, Jeju-do is blessed with a balmy subtropical climate, making it the country's most popular vacation destination. The island is in such high demand that the flight between Seoul and Jeju City is the busiest air route in the world. Just one glimpse of Jeju's glittering white-sand and black-sand beaches, crystal-clear waters and volcanic topography of calderas, cones and tuffs, and it's easy to see why so many mainlanders flock to the island for a bit of R&R.

While Jeju's beaches make the perfect natural setting for lounging oceanside with a book and a cocktail, the island has plenty more to do than just relax. Aside from climbing the country's tallest mountain, Hallasan, outdoors adventure seekers can go surfing at Woljeongri or Jungmun beaches, snorkeling and scuba diving at Munseom Island, spelunking in the Geomunoreum Lava Tube System, waterfall chasing at Jeongbang Pokpo or Cheonjiyeon Pokpo , or tewoo rafting aboard a traditional Jeju boat at the Soesokkak Estuary.

6. Gangwon-do

Best place for winter sports

The site of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, Gangwon-do is home to the best ski resorts in South Korea. For skiing and snowboarding, head to top-rated Yongpyong , the country's oldest and largest ski resort, or High1 , featuring a casino and revolving restaurant. Other popular options are Phoenix Park, Vivaldi Park and Alpensia.

The frosty fun doesn't stop there – Gangwon also hosts several winter festivals, including the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival , where participants can try ice fishing, curling or sledding, and the Taebaeksan Snow Festival , which puts on enormous ice sculpture and ice fountain displays.

Locals perform a traditional Korean mask dance in Andong's Hahoe Village

Best place for celebrating folk traditions

The capital of Gyeongsangbuk-do , Andong is also referred to as "the capital of Korean spirit." It is the country's Confucian culture capital, where you'll find traditional wooden masks and soju, the Korean national drink. At Andong's UNESCO-listed Hahoe Folk Village , the most famous folk village in South Korea, visitors can immerse themselves in the old Joseon-era way of life. Peek inside the village's workshops and its special choga homes, distinguished by their straw-thatched roofs, and even book an overnight stay in a guesthouse.

At the Hahoe Mask Museum , you can view the region's quintessential masks, carved into animated expressions to portray characters like aristocrats, servants and monks. Every fall at the Andong Maskdance Festival , you can see them in action in play performances. You can also tour notable Confucian academies, try traditional soju (local vodka) at the Soju Museum or a local restaurant, and sample Andong's signature soy-braised chicken dish, jjimdak .

This article was first published Aug 3, 2022 and updated Feb 20, 2024.

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South Korea residents on border with North fear spike in tensions

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South Korea's border residents worry amid escalating tension with the North over balloons

Reporting by Hyun Young Yi and Dogyun Kim in Paju, and Hyunsu Yim in Seoul; Editing by Ed Davies and Alex Richardson

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. New Tab , opens new tab

Thomson Reuters

Seoul-based reporter covering the Koreas with a focus on South Korean politics, North Korea's missile tests and the K-pop industry. Before joining Reuters, he worked at The Korea Herald.

A balloon carrying various objects including what appeared to be trash, believed to have been sent by North Korea, is pictured at the sea off Incheon

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North Korea says it will stop sending trash-filled balloons after South Korea’s outcry

North Korea said Sunday it will stop sending trash-filled balloons into South Korea, after the democratic nation pledged to take “ unbearable” steps in retaliation .

A North Korean vice defense minister, Kim Kang II, said Sunday that his country sent the balloons in response to South Korea’s previous leaflet campaigns, which often spread critical messaging of North Korean leaders among the people who live in the authoritarian country and who, therefore, lack access to outside news.

Kim said the country was prepared to resume sending trash-filled balloons if South Korea resumed its anti-Pyongyang leaflet campaign in North Korea.

“We made the [Republic of Korea] clans get enough experience of how much unpleasant they feel and how much effort is needed to remove the scattered wastepaper,” Kim said in a statement carried by North Korean state media, The Associated Press (AP) reported.

Earlier Sunday, South Korea pledged to respond to the provocations with “unbearable” steps, which, the AP reported, experts predicted could include front-line loudspeaker broadcasts into the North. Experts predicted the broadcasts would be directed toward North Korean civilians, criticizing their authoritarian government’s track record on human rights violations, reporting on world news and playing K-pop songs.

South Korea’s military said it discovered more than 700 balloons sent from North Korea on Sunday, after finding 260 earlier this week. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said the balloons were tied to manure, wastepaper and other trash. North Korea said they had flown 3,500 balloons carrying 15 tons of wastepaper.

South Korean officials said the “unbearable” retaliatory steps would be a reaction to the balloons, as well as to the alleged jamming of GPS signals in South Korea and to the North’s simulation of nuclear strikes against the South in recent days.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.

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Real Teenagers, Fake Nudes: The Rise of Deepfakes in American Schools

Students are using artificial intelligence to create sexually explicit images of their classmates..

Hosted by Sabrina Tavernise

Featuring Natasha Singer

Produced by Sydney Harper and Shannon M. Lin

Edited by Marc Georges

Original music by Marion Lozano , Elisheba Ittoop and Dan Powell

Engineered by Chris Wood

Listen and follow The Daily Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube

Warning: this episode contains strong language, descriptions of explicit content and sexual harassment

A disturbing new problem is sweeping American schools: Students are using artificial intelligence to create sexually explicit images of their classmates and then share them without the person depicted even knowing.

Natasha Singer, who covers technology, business and society for The Times, discusses the rise of deepfake nudes and one girl’s fight to stop them.

On today’s episode

Natasha Singer , a reporter covering technology, business and society for The New York Times.

A girl and her mother stand next to each other wearing black clothing. They are looking into the distance and their hair is blowing in the wind.

Background reading

Using artificial intelligence, middle and high school students have fabricated explicit images of female classmates and shared the doctored pictures.

Spurred by teenage girls, states have moved to ban deepfake nudes .

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IMAGES

President Trump becomes first U.S. president to visit North Korea
With 20 steps, Trump made history in North Korea
How Trump made history as first sitting US president to visit North Korea
Uri Tours: Record number Americans visiting North Korea since 2009
History as Donald Trump becomes first US president to visit North Korea
Can Americans Visit North Korea?

VIDEO

The Presidents Visit North Korea🇰🇵 P3
How North Korea Made It Impossible to Escape
I visited North Korea 😨
Going To Visit North Korea
Live: View of border towns in North Korea after US national crossed inter-Korean border during tour

COMMENTS

Can Americans travel to North Korea in 2024?
Since September 1 st 2017 the US State Department introduced travel restrictions to North Korea for all American tourists. This restriction is valid for one year, but has been renewed each year on the 31 st of August unless otherwise revoked by the US Secretary of State. Can Americans travel to North Korea? The US State Department Travel restriction prohibits the use of a US passport for ...
Americans Can't Visit North Korea. Some Who Have Family There Hope
Americans Separated From Family In North Korea Hope Biden Lifts Travel Ban The Biden administration has to decide by month's end whether to keep or lift a ban on travel to North Korea imposed in ...
North Korea International Travel Information
Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). See the State Department's travel website for the Worldwide Caution and Travel Advisories.
North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) Travel Advisory
Travel Advisory. July 24, 2023. North Korea - Level 4: Do Not Travel. O D. Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed. Do not travel to North Korea due to the continuing serious risk of arrest and long-term detention of U.S. nationals. Exercise increased caution to North Korea due to the critical threat of wrongful detention.
I'm One of the Last Americans to Visit North Korea. This ...
North Korea is one country, and South Korea is another. According to World Bank, in 2016, North Korea had a population of 25.3 million and South Korea of 51.2 million. If we add up, we are much closer to the 70-80 million mentioned. The news showing the weather forecast. Look how North Korea takes the whole peninsula.
Can I Travel to North Korea? Yes You Actually Can & Here's How
Traditional seating at a North Korean restaurant Can I Travel To North Korea Final Thoughts. A tour to North Korea is not for the faint-hearted. It's not a beach holiday in Barbados or a shopping trip in New York. It's action-packed and you'll be on the move from 7am to 7pm at night - with some days being longer.
Is North Korea Safe? 8 Essential Travel Tips for Visitors
Can you travel to North Korea? This is a country in which total obedience to the state is the norm. There is no "dissension" in North Korea and travelers must abide by this or simply not travel there. ... However, in January 2010, North Korea lifted the restrictions on American citizens who are now free to visit at any time of the year. If you ...
How To Travel to North Korea as a Tourist
My North Korea tour group. A lovely, diverse bunch of people. 2) Get Your Chinese Visa. My tour with Lupine Travel started and ended in Beijing. This meant I required a Dual Entry Chinese Visa, as I would technically be entering China twice: once via a flight from London, and then again when I left North Korea.. The Chinese visa can be a little tricky.
Travel ban extended: US passports can't be used to visit North Korea
AP. WASHINGTON — The Biden administration has extended for one year a Trump-era ban on the use of U.S. passports for travel to North Korea. The ban had first been imposed by former Secretary of ...
Tourism in North Korea
In 2016, an American college student, ... In July 2017, the U.S. government announced that U.S. citizens would no longer be permitted to visit North Korea as tourists. The travel ban took effect on September 1, 2017. The initial ban, which was set to expire on August 31, 2022, has been extended twice, expiring on August 31, 2024. ...
Americans Can't Visit North Korea. Some Who Have Family There ...
The U.S. bars citizens from entering North Korea, but some Korean Americans hope the Biden administration will lift the ban and let them visit again. Updated August 27, 2021 at 1:04 PM ET
Can Americans Travel to North Korea?
But a handful of curious American tourists can and do visit North Korea every year, with some hefty stipulations. North Korea is one of the most isolated countries in the world, and wants to keep ...
It's complicated if you want to enter North Korea
The North Korean government certainly doesn't it make it easy for foreigners to visit. If you're American, the rules are even stricter. And then there's the danger of something going wrong ...
Can Americans Travel to North Korea?
Can Americans Travel to North Korea? By Mary Anne Potts. August 05, 2009. With this morning's safe return of American journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling (sister of former National Geographic ...
Should You Go to North Korea While You Still Can?
August 29, 2017, 11:25 AM. Each year, roughly 1,000 American tourists visit North Korea. That amounts to a fifth of the total number of Western travelers who annually head to one of the world's ...
Visa policy of North Korea
Politics of North Korea. Most visitors to North Korea must obtain a visa in advance from one of the North Korean diplomatic missions. [1] All visitors holding ordinary passports (except South Korea) must obtain a visa prior to entering North Korea. All visitors (except citizens of South Korea) who travel to North Korea for tourism purposes ...
What Americans will miss about going to North Korea
1 of 15. CNN —. North Korea has drawn a small but steady flow of US travelers since easing restrictions on American tourism in 2010 . But after September 1, 2017, US citizens are barred from ...
Are Americans allowed to travel to North Korea?
Although it is possible for Americans to travel to North Korea, the US government strongly recommends not doing so. On October 5, 2022, the US reissued a Level 4 travel advisory to warn its citizens against visiting North Korea. US passports are considered invalid when attempting to visit North Korea. In order to travel to the latter, an ...
These Are the Last Americans to Visit North Korea
For years, Chinese tour companies have brought foreigners into the country—including roughly 1,000 Americans per year—for a curated tour of daily North Korean life. Americans have been able to ...
How to Visit North Korea's DMZ Border (Updated 2023)
Panmunjeom Travel Center Website: www.panmunjomtour.com Telephone: +82-2-771-5593 (Korean, English, Japanese) Price: 80,000-77,000 won (~$60-$77 USD).All tours include lunch. Note: Tours offered in Korean, English, and Japanese.This is the only company that allows you to meet a North Korean defector/refugee, ask them questions, and better understand the human rights issues of North Korea.
When will the U.S. allow Korean Americans like me to visit our families
The Biden administration has renewed a travel ban to North Korea. But activists are urging the U.S. to lift his rule to allow thousands of Americans with relatives there to visit.
10 Countries Americans CAN'T Travel To Easily
Shrouded in secrecy and often the crux of international tensions, North Korea is a place most Americans could not visit if they wanted to. Only a select few Americans have had the chance, mainly ...
South Korea Residents on Border With North Fear Spike in Tensions
June 5, 2024, at 5:44 a.m. South Korea Residents on Border With North Fear Spike in Tensions. More. Reuters. Yoon Seol-hyun, who runs a guesthouse near the demilitarized zone separating the two ...
North Korea hints at tourism reopening, but doubts remain
The 2017 ban on American travel to North Korea came shortly after the death of Otto Warmbier, a recent college graduate from Ohio who participated in a Young Pioneer Tours group trip to North ...
7 best places to visit in South Korea
2. Busan. Best place for maritime culture. Situated on the southern coast, South Korea's second city, Busan, overflows with a maritime culture as lively as it is varied. Setting the tone is Busan Port, the oldest and largest in the country (and also the sixth-busiest in the world), handling some 80% of South Korea's container cargo.
South Korea residents on border with North fear spike in tensions
When North Korea sent hundreds of balloons carrying trash over the border to South Korea last week, the move sparked emergency alerts and round-the-clock media coverage in its neighbour.
North Korea says it will stop sending trash-filled balloons after South
North Korea said Sunday it will stop sending trash-filled balloons into South Korea, after the democratic nation pledged to take "unbearable" steps in retaliation. A North Korean vice defense minister, Kim Kang II, said Sunday that his country sent the balloons in response to South Korea's previous leaflet campaigns, which often spread critical messaging of…
Where to watch UEFA EURO 2024: TV broadcast partners, live streams
The full drama of UEFA EURO 2024 is available to watch throughout the world thanks to UEFA's official broadcast partners. Fans can find their local UEFA EURO 2024 broadcaster (s) below. Check the ...
Real Teenagers, Fake Nudes: The Rise of Deepfakes in American Schools
Warning: this episode contains strong language, descriptions of explicit content and sexual harassment. A disturbing new problem is sweeping American schools: Students are using artificial ...

Can Americans travel to North Korea in 2024?

Can dual national Americans travel to North Korea?

Can Americans visit North Korea as a tourist? Even for one day?

If I find a travel company willing to take me to North Korea on my US passport, can I go?

Is the North Korea US travel ban the same as Cuba travel ban?

Have any Americans traveled to North Korea since the ban?

Will Americans be allowed to travel to North Korea again?

Read more about travelling safely within North Korea and how to get a North Korean visa

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