Civilian trips to war-devastated Iraq are expected to become virtually impossible for foreign citizens following the interim Iraqi government's decision to prohibit overseas travelers from entering the country without an invitation.

In Seoul, a Foreign Ministry official said Thursday that a visa will now be required to enter Iraq, unlike the period prior to the interim government's launch in late July, when a visa waiver was in effect.

The official reiterated Seoul's warning to South Koreans against making non-essential trips to the Gulf nation, citing the region's worsening security situation.