N Korea gets huffy as US stops citizens going there

– North Korea has criticised Washington’s decision to ban US passport holders from visiting the North, with state media describing it yesterday as a “sordid” attempt to limit human exchanges.

The North’s KCNA news agency, citing an unidentified spokesperson for the foreign ministry, said there was no reason for foreigners to feel threatened and that citizens from around the world were encouraged to visit.

“Our doors are always open for all Americans who visit our country out of good will and wish to see our reality,” the spokesperson said.

The US State Department said earlier this week the ban would take effect on September 1, although some, including journalists and humanitarian workers, may apply for exceptions.

The ban will make reclusive North Korea the only country to which US citizens are banned from travelling. It follows the death in June of US student Otto Warmbier, who was sentenced in North Korea last year to 15 years’ hard labour for trying to steal an item bearing a propaganda item from his hotel. Warmbier was in a coma when he was released by the North on humanitarian grounds and circumstances of his death remain unclear.

KCNA did not name Warmbier in yesterday’s report but said the North had delivered “just punishment” to some US citizens who had carried out acts against the regime. North Korea is currently holding two Korean-American academics and a missionary. –