Washington: The U.S. State Department has renewed its advisory for Americans to avoid travel to North Korea, citing significant risks of arrest and detention in the isolated nation. The warning comes in response to recent calls for easing the travel ban that has been in place since 2017.

According to Yonhap News Agency, a State Department spokesperson reaffirmed the advisory following an inquiry about comments made by Robert King, a former U.S. special envoy for North Korean human rights issues. King had suggested that the current travel restrictions could be relaxed. Despite this, the spokesperson highlighted that former President Donald Trump had expressed openness to dialogue with North Korea without preconditions.

The spokesperson emphasized that the Trump Administration prioritized the safety and security of American citizens. The Department's Travel Advisory categorizes North Korea as a Level 4: Do Not Travel destination due to the ongoing concerns about potential arrests and prolonged detention of Americans.

Secretary Marco Rubio recently extended the Geographic Travel Restriction, rendering U.S. passports invalid for travel to, within, or through North Korea. This extension was made to address the continued risk posed to Americans in the country. Last month, a Federal Register notice confirmed the decision to prolong the travel ban until August 31 of the following year, as the current measure was set to expire this August.

The travel ban was initially instituted in September 2017 after the release of Otto Warmbier, a U.S. college student detained in North Korea for 17 months on charges of anti-state activities. Warmbier returned to the U.S. in a vegetative state and passed away shortly thereafter.

In a recent article on the Korea Economic Institute of America's website, Robert King argued for easing the travel restrictions, suggesting that the ban has hindered Americans from providing vital humanitarian aid to North Korea. While King acknowledged the potential dangers for uninformed tourists, he also noted that humanitarian aid organizations possess the necessary expertise to collaborate effectively with North Korean authorities.