McCain: Americans 'stupid' to still want to travel to NKorea

McCain is right: anyone daft enough to go to North Korea should not be surprised when they are jailed indefinitely for no reason.

cant argue with him on this.

Oh, without a doubt, he's definitely right on this one.

Has any of those travellers blamed the USA for their issues there yet ?

So who decides which country you can visit? Big brother?

Did America give up any concessions to NK in this case, or are they just victim blaming?

So who decides which country you can visit? Big brother?

As an American, I can clarify to you that the US doesn't prevent any American citizen from going to any country at any time.   The US embassy website that the Gov provides always gives travelers with warnings or notifications about any countries that have hostile relations with the US, as well as other things to look out  for.   Pretty much it gives one a chance to use common sense and understand the risks that may be involved with travelling to a foreign nation engaged with hostilities or political aggression with the US.

Pretty much McCain is saying, "Make them sign a paper absolving the US government of any duty to retaliate for their individual stupidity."

EppeeToday11:12 am JST

Has any of those travellers blamed the USA for their issues there yet ?

GoodlucktoyouToday05:16 pm JST

So who decides which country you can visit? Big brother?

dcog9065Today06:34 pm JST

Did America give up any concessions to NK in this case, or are they just victim blaming?

Excellent comments.

McCain as always is making the joyfully stinging criticism while doing absolutely nothing to to actually deal with the problem. At this point he's not so much a maverick as he is a cranky old man ranting at the kids who dare to step on his lawn.

Personally, I'd never want to visit DPRK and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone I know. But considering the US government wouldn't even assist Americans in Japan during 3/11 unless they were members of the exclusive and expensive Tokyo American Club, only a fool would think the US would actually assist any random citizen in trouble in Asia. For years we've known that Uncle Sam only makes an effort for the US citizens who can pay through the nose. And in that light, McCain's victim blaming looks less like a sensible statement of reality and more like the US government trying to conceal the fact that it just doesn't care about its citizens unless they fall within a certain tax bracket.

Who in their right mind would even think about going to such a place ?

I thought the US could issue a travel ban to certain countries if they felt like it. I don't believe any flights from the US can even go straight to NK in the first place. You may have to go to SK first or even China, then get into NK.

What he is referring to is just don't expect any real help if you get in trouble, but I don't expect much help even if I were to go to NK or any nation for that matter and neither should you. We don't deal with terrorists in the first place and besides wiring for "talks" or hostage swaps, it is not like the US is going to go to war over a few civilians. We do not do that now when we send aid workers or non-profit volunteers across the world. Why would anyone expect help just as a regular citizen on vacation.

But I see no reason not to go to NK, provided you adhere to their laws just as any country expects you to. What had happened with that one young man is appalling, but other Americans and people from around the world have succesfully been there and came back.

Maybe it is more Americans are hated more then the other western nations combined... I wonder why... But hey, lets all go fly bombers over their cities again as a show of force...