{"id":8257,"date":"2023-11-08T13:00:29","date_gmt":"2023-11-08T12:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.northkoreainfo.com\/?p=8257"},"modified":"2023-11-08T13:00:29","modified_gmt":"2023-11-08T12:00:29","slug":"why-are-americans-blacklisted-from-north-korea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.northkoreainfo.com\/why-are-americans-blacklisted-from-north-korea\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Are Americans Blacklisted From North Korea"},"content":{"rendered":"
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1. Background Information<\/h2>\n

Americans are often referred to as ‘blacklisted’ from North Korea and it’s important to understand why. North Korea is the only remaining communist state in the world, and its views differ significantly from those of the United States. North Korea has been known to issue sanctions and travel restrictions against U.S. citizens or businesses due to the country’s anti-American sentiment, discouraging most forms of travel into North Korea. While North Korea does have some U.S. citizen tourists permitted to visit for certain purposes, blacklisted citizens are prohibited from entry. <\/p>\n

2. Relevant Data<\/h2>\n

Travel restrictions to North Korea have been in effect since 1950, when the United States first declared the American occupation of the Korean peninsula. Throughout the following decades, sanctions imposed by the United States increased, banning weapons sales and trade deal negotiations. Since then, North Korea has regarded the United States as an imperialistic and oppressive power, leading to a strained relationship between the two states. As a result, North Korea has imposed travel sanctions against the United States, barring any American citizen deemed a ‘blacklisted’ citizen from entering the country. <\/p>\n

3. Expert Perspectives<\/h2>\n

Experts suggest that several factors come into play when assessing the reasons why Americans are blacklisted from entering North Korea. Individuals who have served in the U.S. military, recently visited the South Korean Peninsula, or have publicly criticized North Korea’s leadership are targets for blacklisting due to their perceived ties to the ‘American imperialist regime’. Political and anti-American rhetoric, mainly from North Korea’s leaders, have been repeatedly used as justification for blacklisting foreign citizens and banning their travel. As an expert in international relations, Dr. Lauren Duckworth stated in a 2018 interview, “it’s clear that North Korea is trying to limit the amount of foreign influence, with the goal of controlling its own citizens and the content they’re exposed to.”<\/p>\n

4. Insight and Analysis<\/h2>\n

Overall, it is apparent that North Korea’s decision to blacklist Americans is a symbol of the country’s own economic and political autonomy. North Korea’s hostile attitude towards the United States has caused an extreme lack of trust between the two states, and this is reflected in the lack of travel visas being extended to U.S. citizens. Blacklisting Americans is thus a way for North Korea to distance itself from the United States, reinforcing the message that the North Korean government does not recognize the authority of the U.S. government.<\/p>\n

5. Human Rights Violations<\/h2>\n