Former U.S. envoy urges U.S. to ease N.K. travel ban, citing its impact on aid workers
WASHINGTON, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- A former U.S. envoy for North Korean human rights...
Former U.S. envoy Robert King has urged the United States to ease its longstanding travel ban on American citizens visiting North Korea. King, who served as special envoy for North Korean human rights issues from 2009 to 2017, argues that the ban has hindered humanitarian aid efforts in the reclusive nation. In an article for the Korea Economic Institute of America, King points out that the U.S. has repeatedly renewed the travel restriction without evaluating its impact over the past decade.
The ban, implemented in September 2017 following Otto Warmbier's imprisonment, has not only prevented American tourists from visiting North Korea but also denied U.S. citizens the opportunity to provide crucial humanitarian assistance. King acknowledges the potential risks for naive tourists but maintains that humanitarian organizations possess the necessary expertise to navigate North Korea's government and offer support.
He urges the State Department to provide free travel documents to humanitarian workers, as the current process involving legal costs is a financial burden on U.S. humanitarian groups. King contends that the language in the travel permit application should be changed from "may" to "will grant exceptions" to reflect the United States' commitment to facilitating humanitarian access.
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