Donald Trump Imposes Travel Ban On North Koreans  

Washington: US President Donald Trump has issued a new order to impose travel restrictions on citizens from eight countries including North Korea, expanding the list of nations covered by his original travel ban that has been widely labelled a 'Muslim ban' by critics. Trump unveiled a revamped travel ban as his controversial immigration order covering six Muslim-majority nations was coming to an end. The White House said North Korea did not co-operate with the US government "in any respect" and failed all requirements - and so all travel to the US by its citizens has been banned.

The new rule, which will come into effect on October 18, will continue to target travelers from Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Libya and Iran, but also adds North Korea, Chad and Venezuela to the original list of targeted countries. Trump's original travel ban had been signed as an executive order in the first days of his presidency. Sudan has been dropped from the administration's new list and Iraqi citizens will be subjected to "additional scrutiny" but will not face any blanket ban.

"Following an extensive review by the Department of Homeland Security, we are taking action to protect the safety and security of the American people by establishing a minimum security baseline for entry into the US. We cannot afford to continue the failed policies of the past, which present an unacceptable danger to our country. My highest obligation is to ensure the safety and security of the American people, and in issuing this new travel order, I am fulfilling that sacred obligation" Trump said.

The White House said North Korea did not co-operate with the US government “in any respect” and failed all requirements - and so all travel to the US by its citizens has been banned

The White House said that for the first time in history there has been establishment of enhanced national security measures, aimed at creating minimum requirements for international cooperation to support visa and immigration vetting and adjudications for individuals seeking entry to the US.

Tensions have flared up between the US and North Korea over the the latter's ballistic missile programme.

The new proclamation marks the administration's third move to limit travel into the US. The first one, which was chaotically rolled out in January, targeted refugees and seven Muslim-majority countries. It was subsequently abandoned by the administration after a series of federal courts blocked it on grounds it violated the US constitution's protection of religious freedom.

The second order, issued in March, targeted six of the same countries. A limited version of the ban was allowed to come into effect over the summer following a temporary ruling by the supreme court. The new policy is likely to throw a major hurdle in front of the ongoing supreme court challenge to Trump's second order. The nation's highest court was due to hear arguments in that case on October 10.