The State Department, which represents the US in international affairs and foreign policy, has issued the advice amid escalating tensions with Kim Jong-un’s regime.

A US passport will no longer get you into North Korea, but a special validation is possible in rare cases.

The department’s first recommendation to travellers reads: “Draft a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries and/or power of attorney”.

The second adds: “Discuss a plan with loved ones regarding care/custody of children, pets, property, belongings, non-liquid assets (collections, artwork, etc.), funeral wishes, etc.)

Kim's bomb
Tensions have risen between the US and North Korea over Kim Jong-un's nuclear programme

A State Department comment on its website reads: “The US government is unable to provide emergency services to US citizens in North Korea as it does not have diplomatic or consular reactions with North Korea.”

The advisory adds that the US has no diplomatic or consular presence in North Korea.

Swedish officials have also been bared from visiting detained US citizens in the past, the State Department has said.

Journalists and those with “compelling humanitarian considerations” like the Red Cross can apply for special validation to visit North Korea.

GETTY
The Ryugyong hotel is one of the most noticeable landmarks in North Korea's capital Pyongyang

The US also advises travellers to ten other countries to plan a will before visiting.

They are Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

President Donald Trump announced that the US had designate North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism in November last year.

It added the nation to a list that includes Iran, Sudan and Syria.
Kim Jong-un in pictures
Sun, January 7, 2018
Kim Jong-Un, The Supreme Leader of North Korea takes himself and his leadership very seriously.







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Kim Jong-un pictured saluting as a child
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Kim Jong-un pictured saluting as a child
Kim Jong-un as a little child
Kim Jong-un pictured saluting as a child
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un waving to people after the military parade in Pyongyang marking the 105th anniversary of the birth of late North Korean leader Kim Il-Sung
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C) celebrating the successful test-fire of the intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-14 at an undisclosed location
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un signing documents for test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), Hwasong-14 at undisclosed place in North Korea
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un looks on during a visit to the Chemical Material Institute of the Academy of Defense Science in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency in Pyongyang

US college student Otto Warmbier was imprisoned in North Korea for more than a year and died days after he returned to the US in a coma.

Trump said: “North Korea has repeatedly supported acts of international terrorism including assassinations on foreign soil.

“This designation will impose further sanctions and penalties on North Korea and related persons.”

The State Department’s warning comes just weeks after Kim, while calling for improved relations with South Korea, threatened to strike the US with nuclear warheads.

He said: “The entire area of the US mainland is within our nuclear strike range.

“The United States can never start a war against me and our country.“

http://www.shelegangan.com/2018/01/north-korea-travel-advice-us-government.html