From: 76702.1202@CompuServe.COM (Charlie Smith)
Newsgroups: rec.travel
Subject: *NEW* TRAVEL ADVISORY -- North Korea
Date: 28 Jul 1992 10:09:45 -0500
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL ADVISORY - North Korea
============================================================
NORTH KOREA - WARNING
 July 27, 1992

The United States does not recognize the government of North Korea 
and does not maintain diplomatic or consular relations with North 
Korean authorities.  Because no third country represents United 
States interests in North Korea, the United States government is not 
in a position to accord normal consular protective services to U.S. 
citizens in North Korea.

U.S. passports are valid for travel to North Korea.  However, it is 
the traveler's responsibility to apply for the required visa.

Financial transactions by U.S. individuals in North Korea are 
restricted.  All commercial transactions, with the exception of 
international trade in publications and other informational 
materials, require U.S. government licensing.  Under the Foreign 
Assets Control Regulations administered by the Treasury Department, 
individuals may only spend money in North Korea to purchase items 
related to travel, such as hotel accommodations, meals and goods for 
personal consumption by the traveler in North Korea, and are 
restricted to a per diem of 200 U.S. dollars, excluding 
international and inter-city transportation and international 
telecommunication expenses.  In addition, a traveler returning from 
North Korea may bring back into the United States as accompanied 
baggage 100 U.S. dollars worth of merchandise in non-commercial 
quantities, as well as informational materials without limitation.  
However, receipts should be kept to document any goods purchased in 
North Korea and made available to the U.S. Customs Service when 
entry is made into the United States.

U.S. regulations prohibit use of credit and other charge cards in 
North Korea, even for living expenses or for the purchase of goods 
used by the traveler.

U.S. travel service providers are prohibited from arranging, 
promoting, or facilitating tours to North Korea unless specifically 
licensed by the U.S. Treasury Department to provide travel services 
to groups or individuals involved in academic, sports, cultural, 
family reunion, or certain other noncommercial activities.  The only 
transaction that a U.S. travel service provider is permitted to 
perform without a specific Treasury license is the booking of 
passage for an individual traveler to North Korea aboard a 
third-country "non-blocked carrier."  A non-blocked carrier is any 
carrier other than a Libyan, Cuban, Iraqi, Yugoslav, Vietnamese, or 
North Korean carrier.  No direct transportation services to North 
Korea are available from or authorized for U.S. carriers.  Travelers 
are cautioned against signing up for a tour group destined for North 
Korea which is sponsored by or affiliated with a U.S. person without 
first checking with the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. 
Treasury Department.

This advisory provides only general guidance regarding applicable 
Treasury regulations.  Individuals contemplating travel to North 
Korea are encouraged to contact the Department of the Treasury for 
further information at:

Licensing Division
Office of Foreign Assets Control
Department of Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Treasury Annex
Washington, D.C. 20220
[TEL: 202/622-2480; FAX: 202/622-1657]

DUAL CITIZENSHIP:  U.S. citizens who were born in North Korea or 
who were at one time citizens of North Korea, and the children of 
such persons may be considered dual nationals by North Korean 
authorities and may, therefore, be subject to North Korean laws.  
These laws may impose special obligations upon North Krean 
nationals, e.g., military service, taxes.  The State Department is 
unaware of any such cases in recent memory.

U.S. citizens contemplating travel to North Korea should carry only 
U.S. passports with the proper visa affixed.  Under no condition 
should U.S. citizens accept travel documents which identify them as 
citizens of North Korea.

Specific questions on dual nationality may be directed to the 
Office of Citizens Consular Services, Department of State, 
Washington, D.C.  20520.  [Phone:  202/647-3675].

 No. 92-150

This  replaces the previous travel advisory dated December 21, 
1991.  It reflects changes in the restrictions on certain commercial 
transactions, includes Iraq and Yugoslavia in the list of blocked 
carrier nations, and deletes Cambodia from that list.



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