"can travel to NK" should be read as "can travel to NK without special permission from the US government." You didn't need permission from the US per se to go

"can travel to NK" should be read as "can travel to NK without special permission from the US government." You didn't need permission from the US per se to go to Cuba. You needed permission to contribute to the Cuban economy. If you were in a boat, entered Cuban waters, sailed around Havana harbor, and left without paying any sort of fees, then I don't think there was need for permission. It's possible to get a travel exemption that allows per diem expenditures. The details depend on the type of exemption. See http://www.usacubatravel.com/restriction.htm http://www.usacubatravel.com/restriction.htm . One of them is "Specific licenses for religious organizations", which is almost certainly what that church applied for in order for its members to travel to Cuba. These restrictions are changing this week, I believe. I don't know the latest status.