The death of American citizen Otto Warmbier following his detainment and release from North Korea is shining a light on the reclusive country and its mysterious allure for Western travellers.
Warmbier, 22, died Monday at a Cincinnati hospital just days after he was released from North Korea in a comatose state.
When the student was finally released following strong pressure from the Trump administration, doctors said he had suffered “severe neurological injury,” with extensive loss of brain tissue and “profound weakness and contraction” of his muscles, arms and legs.
READ MORE: U.S. student released by North Korea after being held captive for 17 months
His eyes would open and blink but he showed no signs of understanding verbal commands or his surroundings.
Following his death, Donald Trump condemned the country’s “brutal regime.” U.S. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said Warmbier, “didn’t really make it home.”
On Tuesday, Sen. John McCain said Warmbier had been “murdered,” and suggested that Americans should have to sign a waiver absolving the U.S. government of any blame before travelling to North Korea.
“If people are that stupid that they still want to go to that country then at least they assume the responsibility for their welfare,” McCain said.
North Korea’s appeal
North Korea — often referred to as the Hermit Kingdom — has been accelerating its push to acquire a nuclear-armed missile capable of threatening North America, and has been called a “clear and present danger.”
It’s also like “nowhere else in the world,” said Dylan Harris, director of U.K.-based Lupine Travel, in an email to Global News.
Harris said he and his staff have visited the country hundreds of times over the past decade. Untouched by global influence, Harris said North Korea has developed into an other-worldly place over the past 60 years.
WATCH: North Korea parades tearful American detainee Otto Warmbier (2016)
“As the world begins to open up more and more, North Korea stands alone in its uniqueness. And that is what I think gives the appeal to people who visit. It also remains a mystery after people have visited.
“Most people say they leave North Korea with more questions than they had prior to visiting.”
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Lupine Travel offers various tours to the country, often centred on holidays and events which tend to be marked by lavish displays. While the trips generally cover all meals and accommodation, it will be far from your average holiday.
Visitors should see the trip as educational rather than leisure, said Harris, and have an understanding of North Korea’s “situation and regime.”
READ MORE: North Korea propaganda video shows White House in crosshairs, simulated missile attack
“It is essential to be respectful of the people and their views and not do anything that can put yourself in danger,” said Harris.
“We offer all clients a comprehensive list of what they should and shouldn’t do whilst in North Korea.”
U.S. citizen Ted Papastefan visited North Korea in April 2017 and said he’s looking forward to returning, even with the strict rules for tourists.
“I had to have my guides with me at all times when traveling around the country — North Korean guides must accompany all tourists,” said Papastefan. “You are not allowed to travel freely through the country.”
Papastefan said he had to give his tour guides his passport and visa when he arrived and didn’t get them back until the end of his trip, however, he had no problems whatsoever at customs. The locals were friendly, Papastefan said, and Pyongyang is the cleanest city he’s ever visited.
“It was so refreshing being in a city with no traffic, crime, graffiti, or litter. I was so impressed by North Korea’s beautiful architecture,” said Papastefan.
While Papastefan and Harris are not deterred, Young Pioneer Tours, Warmbier’s tour operator, announced in a Facebook post that it would no longer offer trips to North Korea for American citizens.
“The devastating loss of Otto Warmbier’s life has led us to reconsider our position on accepting American tourists,” the post states, in part.
“The assessment of risk for Americans visiting North Korea has become too high.”
Canadians strongly advised against travel to North Korea
While Canadians can apply for a visa to visit North Korea, the federal government firmly advises against travelling to the country.
“Global Affairs Canada advises against all travel to North Korea (officially named the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) due to the uncertain security situation caused by North Korea’s nuclear weapons development program and highly repressive regime,” states the Global Affairs website.
If you do go to the country and something goes wrong, you may be on your own.
“There is no resident Canadian government office in the country. The ability of Canadian officials to provide consular assistance in North Korea is extremely limited.”
READ MORE: Americans are ‘stupid’ if they still travel to North Korea, John McCain says
If they do go, it’s recommended that Canadians register with the Canadian consulate in Seoul, South Korea, and the Swedish consulate in Pyongyang, North Korea.
All travel into the country must be authorized by the North Korean government ahead of the trip. Travellers should expect to be closely observed, Global Affairs warns, including having their accommodations and communications monitored.
The country also grapples with “serious shortages of food, electricity and clean water,” and medical facilities do not live up to Canadian standards.
WATCH: North Korea ‘ready for war’ with United States
Warmbier was originally arrested, according to North Korean media, for trying to steal an item bearing a propaganda slogan on Jan. 2, 2016. His family has said he had lapsed into a coma in March 2016, shortly after he was sentenced to 15 years of hard labour.
North Korean officials have stuck by their story that Warmbier fell into a coma after contracting botulism and being given a sleeping pill. U.S. doctors said they found no sign of botulism in his system.
In a statement released by the Warmbier family, they blamed his death squarely on, “the awful torturous mistreatment our son received at the hands of the North Koreans.”
— With files from Reuters and The Associated Press
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