US Orders All Passport Holders Out Of North Korea After September 1

Having issued an indirect travel alert “urging” US national to “depart immediately” from North Korea two weeks ago, the US State Department has escalated their perspective on US citizens’ travel to, in, or through North Korea dramatically by declaring all U. S. passports invalid for travel, implicitly ordering all Americans out of North Korea from September 1st 2017.

ACTION: Notice of passport travel restriction.
SUMMARY:
The Department of State is declaring all U. S. passports invalid for travel to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) unless the travel meets certain criteria.
DATES:
The travel restriction is in effect on September 1, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Anita Mody, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Passport Services, Office of Legal Affairs, 202-485-6500.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Department of State has determined that the serious risk to United States nationals of arrest and long-term detention represents imminent danger to the physical safety of United States nationals traveling to and within the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), within the meaning of 22 CFR 51.63(a)(3). Therefore, pursuant to the authority of 22 U. S. C. 211a and Executive Order 11295 (31 FR 10603), and in accordance with 22 CFR 51.63(a)(3), all United States passports are declared invalid for travel to, in, or through the DPRK unless specially validated for such travel, as specified at 22 CFR 51.64. The restriction on travel to the DPRK shall be effective 30 days after publication of this Notice, and shall remain in effect for one year unless extended or sooner revoked by the Secretary of State.

This post was published at Zero Hedge on Aug 2, 2017.