Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon and Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung have released a joint statement strongly urging the Korean public to refrain from visiting dangerous regions.

The travel advisory comes as South Korea is sending additional troops to Iraq.

Meanwhile, the foreign ministry has announced it will bolster security measures to guard the safety of Korean nationals overseas.

However, a ministry official emphasized that those who choose to travel to dangerous areas overseas in defiance of continuous government warnings may soon be subject to punishment.