US lawmakers propose ban on tourist visits to NKorea

WASHINGTON, D.C.: US lawmakers submitted a bill Thursday (Friday in Manila) to tightly restrict travel and ban tourism to North Korea, citing the risk that Pyongyang will arrest Americans for use as diplomatic “bargaining chips.”

The “North Korea Travel Control Act” proposed by Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff and Republican Joe Wilson would block all US tourist visits to the country and force other visitors to obtain permission via a US Treasury licensing system.