Strict warnings against travel to North Korea had already been in place, but Washington toughened its stance after the death in June of Otto Warmbier. “Once in effect, US passports will be invalid for travel to, through and in North Korea,” she said. “We have just been informed that the US government will no longer be allowing US citizens to travel to the DPRK (North Korea),” Young Pioneer Tours said on its website. Young Pioneer Tours had already said it would no longer take Americans to North Korea in the wake of Warmbier’s death. California Democrat Adam Schiff, who introduced the bill, welcomed the State Department’s move, saying in the wake of Warmbier’s death, “limiting US travel is unfortunately sensible and necessary.”AFP

Source: Manila Times July 22, 2017 14:37 UTC