Violence is on the rise. Whether it be the increase of militarism around the world or domestic violence in schools, our world seems to be becoming more and more violent. Unfortunately, the more frequent violence becomes, the more desensitized we become to it, and the more common place it becomes.

Still today the U.S. State Department has a “Do not Travel” advisory for North Korea. The reason stated is due to “the continuing serious risk of arrest and long-term detention of U.S. nationals”. As the Geographic Travel Restriction (GTR) continues to be extended, U.S. passports are still invalid for travel to, in, or through North Korea unless specially validated by the Secretary of State.

But the truth is that compared to other countries, North Korea statistically has a low risk of detention. According to the Korean-American association which processes visas to the DPRK, an estimated 6,000 Korean Americans traveled to North Korea between the years 2000 and 2017, and if all U.S. citizens are included in this number, the estimate is closer to tens of thousands of U.S. travelers. Among those thousands of travelers, only 20 U.S. citizens were detained or arrested. Even with a conservative estimate, this calculates to a risk of only 0.33% of detainment.

The problem lies not in the facts but in the perception of North Korea. North Korea has been painted in the media as an evil, enemy nation. Of course, any traveler must be aware of the risks of travel and abide by the laws of the nation to which they travel to. More than being based in reality, though, this perspective on North Korea is based upon the political polarity between the U.S. as a democratic nation and North Korea as a communist nation.

I have first-hand experience with how our political perspectives taint the reality of our perceptions. In 2013, it was the most intense political time for the past decade within the peninsula. Military exercises in the south had the north all up in arms. Verbal threats were being made. This time it appeared as though war could break out. It would only take one political or military slip-up. 

Yet, as humanitarian medical workers our family had already planned to spend the spring semester at Pyongyang Medical School Hospital. Our long-term visas were pre-approved for 70 days, the longest stay approved for us up to that point. We traveled into the capital city of North Korea in order for us to continue our medical work for children with developmental disabilities.

Normally large crowds of expatriate Koreans and even some foreigners gather inside for the largest holiday of the year, April 15th. But this time there was only about one-third of the normal number of visitors. Most visitors were intimidated by recent threats of war. Only the few and faithful attended that year’s holiday celebrations.

For that very reason, we were warmly welcomed. It made a huge impact on the nation that our humanitarian team was willing to come at such a time as this. Celebrations were kept simple and to a minimum, but hospitality was generous. We were glad that we had come.

The morning after our arrival distant booms and sirens awakened me. Having grown up in South Korea, I was familiar with siren drills. As a child, I had practiced evacuations and blackout drills at the cue of a siren. “But this time, it might be for real,” I thought. Jumping out of bed, I rushed to the window. I drew the drapes and looked out for any signs of evacuation. Yet what I found was local people going about their daily business sweeping streets, opening stores, and commuting to work. “Surely my mind is playing tricks on me,” I realized.

Just to make sure, I turned on BBC news. “If anything significant was going on in the world, BBC would be broadcasting it,” I thought. To my surprise, instead of broadcasting news on North Korea, BBC was breaking news on an explosion in the U.S.A. At least two explosions had occurred at the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

All this time we had been worried about our safety. But seeing the breaking news, we began to realize it is not about our physical location. Anything can happen at any time in any place. We are not necessarily any safer in the U.S. than anywhere else in the world.

I believe we all want to live a world that is safe and secure, free from violence. We want to live in peace. But as Nelson Mandela declared, “If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.”

A travel ban (GTR) is not the answer. We have to be willing to engage with North Korea if we ever want to live at peace with them, free from the threat of nuclear weapons or war. Like Nelson Mandela, we have to be willing to make peace with our enemy. Nelson Mandela personally knows the sacrifice required for peace. He is one of the few who has successfully seen peace established in our conflict-torn world.

Click here to advocate for peace on the Korean Peninsula and for lifting the travel ban to North Korea.