Given the ban on US tourists travelling to North Korea, one American has expended a significant sum, more than $100,000, to acquire a second passport that allows him to visit the isolated East Asian nation. The substantial investment was aimed at circumventing pre-existing restrictions placed on US citizens visiting the region.
This unusual case comes against the backdrop of tightened measures by the United States and United Nations against travel to North Korea following the death of US student Otto Warmbier in 2017, who had been detained by North Korean authorities. In the aftermath of this incident, the US State Department announced a travel ban targeting North Korea in response.
The anonymous American, who chose to remain undisclosed for personal security reasons, acquired his alternative passport from the Caribbean island of Saint Kitts and Nevis. The buy-a-passport or Citizenship by Investment program in this region costs between $150,000 and $250,000, according to the Saint Kitts and Nevis government’s official website.
The second passport allows the holder to travel to 156 countries without a visa, including nations not easily accessible by American passport holders such as Iran and North Korea. As stated by the unidentified American, the investment was made in the spirit of global exploration and a desire to deter limitations on travel.
However, the step to acquire a second passport has been met with suspicion and controversy. Critics argue that such methods can be exploited by those wishing to evade law enforcement or engage in illegal activities, noting that the practice may pose a potential risk to international security.
Despite these concerns, the unidentified American’s extravagant solution to the travel restrictions remains a pertinent example of the lengths some individuals will go to overcome legal barriers, underlining the complexities of international travel in today’s globalized world.
Last modified: February 20, 2025
