Foreign Ministry urges Israelis to steer clear of North Korea

North Korea's recently eased policy of issuing tourist visas to Israelis might have opened a new and exciting destination for Israeli travelers abroad, but the Foreign Ministry warns of the risks entailed in visiting an internationally isolated country.

"The Foreign Ministry recommends that Israeli citizens avoid traveling to North Korea, which is under the broadest possible international sanctions," the ministry said in a statement Monday. "In light of the fact that Israel has no diplomatic relations with North Korea, if any Israeli citizen encounters trouble while visiting, the Israeli authorities will be unable to help in any way."

The Foreign Ministry stressed that it was up to Israeli travelers to decide whether or not to visit the country, and visits to North Korea would be on the traveler's own responsibility.

Israeli travel agency Tarbutu announced Sunday that it was adding North Korea to its list of destinations, the first time an Israeli travel agency has offered organized tours to the secretive East Asian nation.

The agency is the sole operator in Israel for the trips, and will handle the visa application process with North Korean authorities.

Israelis have previously been allowed into North Korea only through Chinese tourism companies, and only about 100 Israelis have gone on such trips.