Everyone told to ‘stay away from North Korea’ as mass arrests of tourists warning issued

Despite entry to North Korea being limited, and often in small groups with strict security measures, the place is still viewed as a top destination for those curious about life behind the walls

Tourists looking for a sun-chasing holiday in North Korea have been told to “stay away”. Despite being one of the world’s most closed-off nations, North Korea is still a top tourist destination for some.

And even though entry is limited, and often in small groups with strict security measures, the place is still viewed as a top destination for those curious about life behind the Kim Jong-un imposed walls.

But now an official “do not go” warning has been issued by the United States for fears that tourists could be arrested en masse. Having been asked by Yonhap News Agency in South Korea whether or not the ban would be lifted after fromer US special envoy for North Korean human rights issues, Robert King, suggested they should be, a sobering response was given.

A US Government spokesman said: “The Trump Administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans. Due to that strong commitment, the Department’s Travel Advisory for Americans regarding the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea remains at Level 4: Do Not Travel.

“The Department of State strongly warns Americans not to travel to North Korea for any reason. Secretary (Marco) Rubio extended the existing Geographic Travel Restriction that makes U.S. passports invalid for travel to, in, or through North Korea due to continuing concerns over the serious risk to Americans of arrest and long-term detention in North Korea.”

The US ban on travel to North Korea first started in 2017 after North Korea released Otto Wambier, the US college student who had been detained for 17 months and was found to be in a vegetative state upon release.

Currently, the ban is set to end of August 31 but has been extended annually ever year for the last nine years, despite US President Donald Trump having a pretty decent relationship with the despotic North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

In May 2026, following a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he had been in communication with Kim Jong Un. ^{When asked for specifics about their exchanged messages, Trump declined to provide details, stating that the nature of their communications “doesn’t matter”. He reiterated that the two leaders have a “good relationship” and noted that Kim has “been respectful of our country”}