U.S. Measure of Travel Ban to DPRK under Fire

Pyongyang, August 4 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK gave the following answer to a question raised by KCNA on Friday as regards the fact that the U.S. Department of State issued a travel ban to the DPRK:

On August 2, the U.S. Department of State announced to its citizens a travel ban to the DPRK.

Regardless of any government's policy towards the DPRK, we encourage various forms of exchanges and contacts including visits by people from all over the world.

There isn't any reason for the foreigners to feel threat to their safety in the DPRK which has the most stable and strong state system, and numerous foreigners including Americans who visited our country unanimously agree on this.

As for a few U.S. citizens who committed hostile acts against the DPRK instigated by malicious groups in the U.S., we gave them due punishments in accordance with the laws of the DPRK and there is no country in the world that will ignore the foreigners who committed hostile acts within its territory.

It is a legitimate right of a sovereign state to punish criminals as required by laws.

The U.S. administration took this childish measure of issuing a travel ban to our country while finding fault with the exercise of legitimate right of the sovereign state. This is an act to impugn the dignified prestige of the DPRK and a vile measure to limit the people-to-people exchange so as not to allow the U.S. citizens to see the true picture of the DPRK that achieves victory after victory under the banner of simultaneously building up the economy and defense and the failure of the U.S. hostile policy towards the DPRK. It is also a reflection of the U.S. administration's perception which regards the DPRK as an enemy.

Now is time for the Trump administration to come to its senses and make a decision to abandon its hostile policy towards the DPRK.

We will always leave our door wide open to any U.S. citizen who would like to visit our country out of good will and to see the realities with their own eyes. -0-