The US government looks all set to ban American tourists from entering North Korea in the wake of the death of student Otto Warmbier, according to the company that took him to the secretive state.

According to China-based tour operator Young Pioneer Tours, the official announcement will come on Thursday, July 27 – the so-called ‘Victory Day’ holiday of the DPRK. Young Pioneer was the agency that took US student Otto Warmbier to North Korea. He was subsequently arrested there and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor.

It issued a statement on Friday saying: "We have just been informed that the US government will no longer be allowing US citizens to travel to the DPRK (North Korea).

"It is expected that the ban will come into force within 30 days of July 27th. After the 30 day grace period any US national that travels to North Korea will have their passport invalidated by their government."

Washington had been mulling a tourist travel ban to the DPRK for several months, but it is thought that recent events like the death of U.S. national Otto Warmbier and North Korea’s ICBM test of July 4th catalyzed further consideration of the matter.

It is estimated that approximately 1,250 U.S. tourists visit North Korea each year, a figure that would generate about $1.9 million dollars of U.S. consumer expenditure, a figure inclusive of fees towards travel, food, and accommodations.

 

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