The South Korean Foreign Ministry said Thursday that the Iraqi government has reopened its embassy in Seoul after a 13-year closure.

According to the ministry, the South Korean government has issued an approval for the request of Iraqi diplomats to establish a diplomatic mission.

The South Korean Yonhap News Agency said the Iraqi diplomats have recently moved into their new office in southeastern Seoul.

South Korea established diplomatic ties with Iraq in 1989. Following Iraq's invasion into Kuwait, South Korea withdrew its mission to Baghdad in 1991. In 1994, Iraq closed down its diplomatic mission in Seoul.

(Xinhua News Agency January 4, 2007)