March 29, 2024
Analysis

What to make of Washington’s new visa restrictions on visitors to North Korea

While inconvenient for many, the measures are unlikely to have a major impact on the DPRK economy

The Department of State will no longer offer visa-free access to the United States for foreigners who have previously traveled to North Korea, an updated regulation introduced on Tuesday showed.

Based on 2015-era legislation, the development will complicate travel eligibility to the U.S. for tens of thousands of people worldwide, create new obstacles for an already under-pressure North Korea travel industry, and likely add a hurdle for even some of the richest South Koreans worldwide.

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