1.The Foreign Ministry hosted the 21st meeting of the Passport Policy Commission on August 24 to mull over whether to extend the restriction on the use of passports for travel (or travel ban on) to Syria and Yemen, due to expire soon.

2. In the meeting, in view of the expected continuation of the political and security unrest in the two countries, the Commission decided to extend the restriction (or travel ban) until February 28, 2013.

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 Ministry of Justice, 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