North Korea Travel Ban Remains in Place, US Cites Arrest Risks

U.S. officials have maintained the travel prohibition to North Korea, highlighting continued concerns over the possibility of arbitrary arrest and long‑term imprisonment of American citizens. The State Department’s latest advisory stresses that the regime can apply its laws arbitrarily, leaving foreign visitors exposed to severe legal jeopardy.

Diplomatic avenues for assistance are effectively closed, making consular support extremely limited. Since September 2017, a U.S. passport cannot be used for trips to the DPRK without a specific waiver issued by the department, and such waivers are granted only in exceptional circumstances.

The ban, originally enacted in 2017, has been extended annually through a notice filed in the Federal Register, with the current extension covering the period up to August 31 2027.