The United States on Monday reiterated a warning against traveling to North Korea as dozens of American and other activists plan to walk across the heavily fortified inter-Korean border in an effort to promote peace on the divided peninsula.

About 30 female activists from around the world, including American activist Gloria Steinem and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Maguire from Ireland, plan to march from North Korea to the South via the demilitarized zone that bisects the two Koreas to mark the May 24 International Women's Day for Peace and Disarmament.

They say they hope to help unite Korean families separated by the border, reduce military tensions between the two Koreas, and help ultimately end the Korean War by replacing the 1953 Armistice Agreement with a permanent peace treaty.

"The safety and welfare of U.S. citizens aboard are among our top priorities," a State Department spokesperson said in response to Yonhap News Agency's request for comment on the DMZ-crossing campaign. "The Department of State updated its travel warning for North Korea on May 20, 2013, strongly recommending against all travel by U.S. citizens to North Korea." (Yonhap)