Passes = refusals?

But I cannot find the word "passe" in my dics.

Context:

However, North Korean officials could also be surprisingly forthcoming. In May 2008, I was involved in negotiations between the United States government (USG) and the DPRK on a Letter of Understanding (LOU) for 500,000 metric tons of food aid. I was most interested in the highly sensitive issue of random access. It was no surprise that the LOU negotiation was intense and painstaking. It was also predictable that random access would be among the three outstanding issues to be resolved. I was surprised, therefore, that the chief DPRK negotiator did not pursue the usual tactic of invoking national security concerns ad nauseam. Instead he explained that passes and travel permits were needed everywhere and took time to obtain; security clearances were encumbered by bureaucratic procedures and often complicated by poor or inadequate communication facilities.

Thanks.

A passport is a "pass". It allows you to pass a port of entry into another country.

But there are other "passes", more limited in scope.

When you look more deeply into this (not your strong suit, apparently)
you will find I am right about most things.

hahaha