Home

The Korea Herald

Latest news

Most Popular

  1. 1

    Now is no time to add pressure on businesses: top executives

    Now is no time to add pressure on businesses: top executives
  2. 2

    CJ CheilJedang to spur overseas growth with new Hungary, US plants

    CJ CheilJedang to spur overseas growth with new Hungary, US plants
  3. 3

    Seoul to host winter festival from Dec. 13

    Seoul to host winter festival from Dec. 13
  4. 4

    Blackpink's solo journeys: Complementary paths, not competition

    Blackpink's solo journeys: Complementary paths, not competition
  5. 5

    Nationwide rail disruptions feared as union plans strike from Dec. 5

    Nationwide rail disruptions feared as union plans strike from Dec. 5
  1. 6

    N. Korea, Russia court softer image: From animal diplomacy to tourism

    N. Korea, Russia court softer image: From animal diplomacy to tourism
  2. 7

    [Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s Jennie, Lisa invited to Coachella as solo acts

    [Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s Jennie, Lisa invited to Coachella as solo acts
  3. 8

    Smugglers caught disguising 230 tons of Chinese black beans as diesel exhaust fluid

    Smugglers caught disguising 230 tons of Chinese black beans as diesel exhaust fluid
  4. 9

    Korean Air offers special flights for mileage users

    Korean Air offers special flights for mileage users
  5. 10

    Russia sent 'anti-air' missiles to Pyongyang, Yoon's aide says

    Russia sent 'anti-air' missiles to Pyongyang, Yoon's aide says
소아쌤

Travel groups suspend trips to N. Korea after US student's death

By a2017001

Published : June 21, 2017 - 10:21

    • Link copied

Travel agencies specializing in North Korea tours are saying they will no longer take US citizens to the North after an American university student released by North Korea last week in a coma died, Radio Free Asia reported Wednesday.

An official at New Korea Tours, a North Korea tour operator, told the Washington-based RFA in an email that it has decided not to receive applications for North Korea tours from US citizens due to the recent tragic incident, referring to the death of Otto Warmbier, a 22-year-old University of Virginia student. 

American student Otto Warmbier cries while speaking to reporters in Pyongyang, North Korea. (AP-Yonhap) American student Otto Warmbier cries while speaking to reporters in Pyongyang, North Korea. (AP-Yonhap)

Warmbier died Monday, six days after he returned to his Ohio home in a coma after 17 months of detention in the North for taking down a political propaganda sign from a hotel.

The New Korea Tours official was quoted as saying the travel operator will not sell North Korea tour products to US citizens until further notice.

The decision came after Young Pioneer Tours, the travel agency that organized Warmbier's trip to the North, said on its Facebook page that due to "this tragic outcome we will no longer be organizing tours for US citizens to North Korea."

Other travel agencies including Koryo Tours and Uri Tours have said they were reviewing their North Korea operations for American citizens.

North Korea tour operators' decision to suspend trips for some clients is interpreted as taking measures toward increasing security concerns about North Korea tours prompted by Warmbier's death.

The US government has been mulling a travel ban on North Korea. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on June 14, one day after Warmbier was brought home from Pyongyang, that the State Department is considering a possible restriction against US nationals traveling to the North. (Yonhap)

More from Headlines