President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. issued an executive order on border security which includes a directive to refuse entry and issuance of visa to North Koreans.
Executive Order (EO)No. 424, which was signed by Remengesau on April 30, outlined government policy that indicated that the government must “refuse to allow entry or deny issuance of any visa of any nature at any port of entry in Palau to any person holding a passport issued by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea).”
The EO stated that this is in accordance with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1718- aresolution that imposes aseries of economic and commercial sanctions on North Korea after its claimed nuclear test on October 9, 2006.
Although the resolution had already been adopted unanimously by the UNSC in 2006, Remengesau’s executive order had just been signed in April this year.
“The president recognized that Palau as a member of the United Nations has acceded to a number of international treaties and conventions to combat international crime such as money laundering, drug trafficking, human trafficking, terrorism, and corruption,” the EO read.
The EO also directed the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) to disseminate copies of order to relevant agencies including commercial carriers plying the routes to and from Palau.
“Each carrier, commercial or otherwise, shall be responsible to assure that all their passengers entering the republic are aware of the conditions of thus executive order, especially those pertaining to DPRK passport holders,” the EO stated. (By Rhealyn C. Pojas)