U.S. President Barack Obama has signed a new executive order that bans the direct or indirect imports of goods, service and technologies from North Korea.

The new directive went into effect at 1 p.m. Tuesday Korean Time.

The new executive order requires the authorization of all imports into the United States from North Korea except for exemptions.

The White House said that the action is an additional step to address Executive Order 13466 of June 26th, 2008, and Executive Order 13551 of August 30th, 2010.

Executive Order 13466 issued under former President George Bush’s administration bans U.S. citizens from owning and operating North Korean ships. Executive Order 13551, which was declared following North Korea’s sinking of the South Korean naval ship Cheonan last year, aims at prohibiting North Korea from buying luxury items and laundering money.

The White House also said that the new directive is to ensure the implementation of U.N. Security Council resolutions 1718 and 1874, which impose sanctions on North Korea for its nuclear activities.