U.S. extends ban on travel to North Korea for another year

Aug. 30 (UPI) -- the U.S. prolonged its ban on americans traveling to North Korea for a different yr Thursday, citing hazard to citizens.

The State department put the ban into impact via Aug. 31, 2019.

"The security and security of U.S. citizens distant places is certainly one of our optimum priorities," a State department authentic noted in a statement emailed to UPI. "The shuttle warning for North Korea is still in place -- the department of State strongly warns U.S. residents now not to travel to North Korea."

The branch first announced the ban on U.S. residents touring to North Korea in July 2017 after the death of yankee Otto Warmbier, who visited the nation in 2016. He become sooner or later convicted of stealing a propaganda poster, spent 18 months in detention center and lower back domestic in June in a coma. He died days later.

The ban gives some exceptions for americans traveling to North Korea "for extremely confined functions," namely in country wide hobby. Representatives of the overseas Committee of the purple cross or the American pink pass are allowed to shuttle there for an reputable mission, and journalists may also also be given exceptions for reporting on the country.

these concerned in negotiations to denuclearize North Korea may also also travel there.

The ban supersedes prior State department warnings that discouraged -- but didn't expressly forbid -- shuttle to North Korea.