Why hasn't the US placed a full embargo on North Korea and Iran (like Cuba)?

[US 41]

I mean seriously. Is there a valid reason? I would be totally in favor of not allowing Americans to visit the country and placing a full embargo on North Korea.

I would also support a full embargo on Iran as well for obvious reasons. Their almost as bad as North Korea.

I just want to hear your thoughts on this. This topic is something that has kind of bothered me for a long time.

[kphoger]

I disagree with our government's restricting my freedom to travel to ANY country.  That should be the decision of the other country, not my own.

[AlexandriaVA]

You're more than welcome to not engage in business with those countries. Not sure why you feel the need to compel others to do the same. To each their own...

[Scott5114]

I'm fairly sure they're under OFAC sanctions.

[kphoger]

Iran not since July 2015, if I'm not mistaken.

[pumpkineater2]

I thought North Korea already didn't allow Americans to visit their country, but maybe I'm wrong?

[kphoger]

I thought North Korea already didn't allow Americans to visit their country, but maybe I'm wrong?

That may very well be, I'm not sure.  But a restriction imposed by North Korea is not the same thing as a restriction imposed by the USA.

[triplemultiplex]

I thought North Korea already didn't allow Americans to visit their country, but maybe I'm wrong?

[kkt]

I mean seriously. Is there a valid reason? I would be totally in favor of not allowing Americans to visit the country and placing a full embargo on North Korea.

Why?  Americans visiting North Korea will spread the word, even just implicitly, that the USA isn't as bad as North Korean propaganda says it is.

[Max Rockatansky]

Probably because nobody of consequence state side (Dennis Rodman included) wants anything to do with them.  Usually it's just the heavily leaning Socialist types that try to travel there. 

[Duke87]

Probably because nobody of consequence state side (Dennis Rodman included) wants anything to do with them.  Usually it's just the heavily leaning Socialist types that try to travel there.

Or people who are hardcore world travelers and want to experience firsthand what it's like there.

There are a handful of people who can claim to have visited every country in the world (for the same reason many of us clinch counties, but on a grander scale). That by necessity includes North Korea and other similarly undesirable places. One of the people who has done it is a US citizen so it is absolutely possible for non-celebrities, albeit there are restrictions.

[Max Rockatansky]

Probably because nobody of consequence state side (Dennis Rodman included) wants anything to do with them.  Usually it's just the heavily leaning Socialist types that try to travel there.

Or people who are hardcore world travelers and want to experience firsthand what it's like there.

There are a handful of people who can claim to have visited every country in the world (for the same reason many of us clinch counties, but on a grander scale). That by necessity includes North Korea and other similarly undesirable places. One of the people who has done it is a US citizen so it is absolutely possible for non-celebrities, albeit there are restrictions.

I guess if it's worth taking your life in your own hands then by all means.    Figure you might stand out like a sore thumb to snatched up as an enemy of the people of a "counter revolutionary."  Isn't the mere fact that we know of the guy at all make him a "minor celebrity" in his own right?

Says the guy who used travel the El Camino Del Diablo for a week at a time....the irony isn't lost.

[Scott5114]

I mean, you're not really taking your "life in your hands" if you visit North Korea. There is a state-sanctioned tour you can take. The government tour directors follow you pretty closely to make sure you only see the officially-created image of North Korea they want you to see. As long as you stick to that, you're theoretically fine.

It's when people try to give the tour guides the slip and dig too much into the "real" North Korea that foreigners have problems.

[kphoger]

I mean, you're not really taking your "life in your hands" if you visit North Korea. There is a state-sanctioned tour you can take.

Seriously.  It's not like you're going to the moon in a personal shuttle...

[Duke87]

I guess if it's worth taking your life in your own hands then by all means.    Figure you might stand out like a sore thumb to snatched up as an enemy of the people of a "counter revolutionary."  Isn't the mere fact that we know of the guy at all make him a "minor celebrity" in his own right?

Well he wasn't a celebrity at the time. Chris Guillebeau is best known for being a US citizen that has visited every country.

[english si]

It's when people try to give the tour guides the slip and dig too much into the "real" North Korea that foreigners have problems.

Or journalists reporting back even non-negative stuff without getting permission.

[SteveG1988]