On Thursday, it was confirmed that North Korea has implemented a complete ban on entry for dual nationals holding U.S. citizenship. This measure appears to be aimed at restricting Americans using passports from third countries or Korean-Americans from entering the country.
Young Pioneer Tours (YPT), a travel agency specializing in North Korea, announced on its website on Wednesday that individuals with U.S. citizenship and another nationality are not permitted to enter North Korea, regardless of which passport they use.
YPT clarified that this policy applies to all types of visits, including tourist trips, business delegations, and participation in international sporting events. The agency also stated that they will verify applicants’ U.S. citizenship status during the visa approval process.
While the U.S. has effectively banned its citizens from traveling to North Korea since 2017, some dual nationals have managed to visit using passports from other countries. However, as relations between North Korea and the U.S. have deteriorated, it appears that North Korea has now proactively moved to block entry for U.S. citizens.
This action suggests that despite North Korea’s apparent signals of opening its borders, particularly to boost tourism, it continues to implement restrictive measures in practice.
Last year, North Korea briefly allowed Western tourists to enter the Rason Special Economic Zone near the Chinese border, only to reverse this decision after about two weeks. In April of this year, they resumed the Pyongyang International Marathon, welcoming over 200 foreign participants, but abruptly canceled it. Last month, they permitted Western economic delegations to attend the Pyongyang International Trade Fair, but this did not lead to a broader resumption of tourism.
However, there is some ambiguity regarding the actual implementation of these regulations. Korea Tour, another travel agency specializing in North Korea, explained that different agencies within North Korea handle visa issuance and invitation processes, which may result in variations in how the rules are applied. Some analysts suggest it’s premature to consider this a definitive policy, given that tourism to North Korea has not fully resumed.
Nonetheless, North Korea’s increased scrutiny of U.S. nationals indicates its continued caution in dealings with the U.S. Recently, North Korea has resumed limited foreign exchanges while maintaining a selective opening focused on tourists from Russia and China.