1. The Foreign Ministry held the 22nd meeting of the Passport Policy Commission on January 25 to discuss whether to extend the restrictions on the use of passports for travel (or travel ban on) to Iraq, Yemen and Syria, which are due to expire soon.

* The passport restrictions for Iraq, Yemen and Syrian are due to expire on February 6, 28 and 28, 2013, respectively.

2. In the meeting, in view of the expected continuation of the political and security unrest in the three countries, the Commission decided to extend the restrictions (or travel ban) for Iraq, Yemen and Syria until July 31, May 31, and July 31, respectively .

3. The meeting was presided over by Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Sung-han and attended by civilian members and officials of relevant government agencies, including the Presidential Office, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the National Police Agency, the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs, and the Ministry of Knowledge Economy.

                        Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFAT

* unofficial translation