Originally Posted by
dhuey
Interesting question. I have no desire to visit North Korea, but I am curious to know if the US government can lawfully ban American nationals from visiting the country, or any country. The embargo on Cuba never banned visits by Americans, but it has banned a wide variety of commercial transactions, such as paying for a taxi, meal or lodging (with lots of exceptions).
The same way it can ban people from any international travel by denying a passport altogether. The ban isn't complete - one can apply for special permission. There might be an argument to make that this process fails the due process requirement of
Aptheker v. Secretary of State but I imagine that the government would have a decent response that it has made available a process for anyone wishing to travel to North Korea to obtain permission to do so, with a fair process for assessing their need and whether it should be approved.