State Dept. Advises Americans Traveling to NKorea to Arrange Funeral Plans First

The State Department has updated its travel warning for North Korea to advise Americans to plan their funerals before entering the country.

On the State Department's travel advisory webpage for North Korea, it warns American citizens that "individuals cannot use a U.S. passport to travel to, in, or through North Korea without a special validation from the Department of State."

If an individual does obtain a special validation to the country, the department recommends that they "draft a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries and/or power of attorney," and "discuss a plan with loved ones regarding care/custody of children, pets, property, belongings, non-liquid assets (collections, artwork, etc.), funeral wishes, etc."

Sixteen Americans have been detained in North Korea in the past 10 years. After the death of American college student Otto Warmbier, who was imprisoned in North Korea for over a year, the House passed a bill intended to impose severe sanctions on the country's weapons program.

"The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in North Korea as it does not have diplomatic or consular relations with North Korea," the department notes. "Sweden serves as the protecting power for the United States in North Korea, providing limited emergency services. The North Korean government routinely delays or denies Swedish officials access to detained U.S. citizens."

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