Considering the political fall out every time an American is arrested it is amazing that a travel ban has not been instituted on North Korea a long time ago. If a travel ban is not instituted then the US government should at least make it very clear that it will not negotiate to get detainees released:
Passengers board an Air Koryo plane bound for Beijing at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea, in June 2015. The U.S. State Department has long warned against travel to North Korea, but it is now reportedly seeking a ban on tourism.
Without banning it outright, the U.S. State Department has long warned against travel to North Korea. But, post nuclear test, the U.S. is now reportedly seeking a ban on tourism and restrictions to keep the North’s flagship airline, Air Koryo, from flying into and out of airports abroad. Most tourists board their flights to Pyongyang from Beijing.
As yet, none of the major North Korea travel agencies are canceling upcoming trips. One of the year’s biggest tourist draws, the Pyongyang marathon, is just months away.
They are, however, concerned about the fallout from Warmbier’s arrest.
China-based Young Pioneer stressed in a news release that Warmbier was the first of the 7,000 people it has taken to North Korea over the past eight years to face arrest. Uri Tours, based in New Jersey, told AP that it has also had only one such case — American Matthew Miller, who ripped up his tourist visa on arrival in what he has said was a deliberate attempt to get arrested. (……….)
“Critics claim that tourism is an avenue for the DPRK government to arrest Americans as political hostages. However, this has not been our experience,” she said. “We’ve taken many American tourists and with the exception of Matthew Miller, they’ve all returned safely with positive feedback.” [Stars & Stripes]
