(CNN) - The U.S. State Department announced Friday it will ban American citizens from traveling to North Korea.
A State Department spokesperson said the decision was made due to "serious risk of arrest and long-term detention under North Korea's system of law enforcement."
The ban begins in late August, but the State Department strongly warns Americans against travel to North Korea.
Once in effect, U.S. passports will be invalid for travel to, through and in North Korea.
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