Korea extends travel ban to Libya by 2 months

Korea extended a ban on its passport holders traveling to Libya by two months on Friday due to continuing violent conflict between rebels and government forces in the war-torn African country.

The two-month extension from Oct. 15 to Dec. 14 came after a meeting of the government's passport policy deliberation committee.

Korean nationals have been banned from traveling to Libya without special permission from the government since March. Those who do not comply may face punishment of up to one year in prison or pay a fine.

"Libya is still in a state of war as there are skirmishes in some of its regions," said a Foreign Ministry official. "We took into account the lives and safety of South Korean people." (Yonhap)