International

State Dept. extends travel ban to North Korea

The Trump administration is extending a travel ban for Americans traveling to North Korea through next year, according to a State Department memo released Monday.

The ban, originally instituted in June 2017, will remain in place until Aug. 31, 2020, unless revoked earlier by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, according to The Associated Press.

{mosads}It was imposed by then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson after the death of U.S. student Otto Warmbier, who was detained in North Korea. The ban was renewed once already, in 2018. 

U.S. citizens interested in going to North Korea for humanitarian- or journalism-related purposes will be able to apply for exceptions through the State Department. 

The travel ban extension comes amid a stall in nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and North Korea.

President Trump has said he will meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to discuss denuclearization later this year. The two leaders have met multiple times already on the issue but have been unable to reach an agreement.

Kim has overseen several weapon test launches in the last month despite warnings from South Korea.