South Korea to Send Additional Troops to Iraq

Chosun Ilbo ^ | Updated Oct.18,2003 11:25 KST | Youn Sung-ho

[Int]

South Korea to Send Additional Troops to Iraq
by Youn Sung-ho (syoun@chosun.com)

The government decided Saturday to send additional forces to Iraq in response to the United Nations Security Council's resolution that its members help out in post-war Iraq, presidential spokesman Yoon Tai-young said.

President Roh Moo-hyun convened a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) to discuss its position on the troop dispatch. The decision came only a day before President Roh is to head to Bangkok to participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Roh is scheduled to meet on Monday with U.S. President George W. Bush on the sidelines of the APEC meeting.

The details of the dispatch, however, such as its size, timing and type of troops will be finalized following consideration of the U.S. request as well as public opinion. The government has also decided to provide $200 million for the rebuilding of Iraq over the next four years starting from 2004, Yoon added.

[Plutarch]

Good. Say, didn't we help South Korea out by sending over a few troops a few years back?

[bart99]

If they don't send 5-10,000 troops REAL soon, because of 'public opinion', internal political unrest, or concerns about North Korea - or any other reason, I think the USA should relocate about 37,000 troops from S. Korea to Iraq.

After all, the Bush strategy re North Korea is to let Japan, Russia, and China take the lead on 'solving' the North Korean situation.

50 years of hand holding in South Korea is long enough. WE have other pressing problems - and a new military strategy to deal with them. Time for the US forces in South Korea to be redeployed.

[Tennessee_Bob]

Look out, Saddam Fedayeen - here come the ROK Marines.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

The R.O.K.'s ROCK..!!!

[dr_who_2]

It would be better if we told them to keep their troops where they are and move some of our troops out of South Korea.