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S. Korea to Send More Troops to Iraq

Associated Press
Published | Updated

SEOUL, South Korea – South Korea (search) said Saturday it would send additional troops to help U.S. forces rebuild and stabilize Iraq.

"The government will decide on the number, characteristics and timing of the dispatch after considering the U.S. request and public opinion," said Yoon Tae-young, a spokesman for South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun (search).

Yoon did not clarify whether the unidentified number of new troops will be combat or non-combat forces. South Korea has sent 675 non-combat troops to Iraq earlier this year.

South Korea also plans to contribute $200 million in the next four years to help rebuild Iraq, Yoon said.

Seoul's decision came two days after the U.N. Security Council (search) unanimously adopted a U.S.-led resolution aimed at getting more troops and money to help stabilize Iraq and speed its independence.

The United States has been asking South Korea to send troops to help restore security.

South Korean officials said the United States didn't specify how many troops it wanted, but cited the Polish-led international division of 9,500 troops operating in southern Iraq as an example for South Korean involvement.

South Korea had been saying it would make a decision after considering several factors, including public opinion.

Koreans are divided over sending troops to Iraq. Some believe it would boost Seoul's military alliance with Washington, which is vital to South Korea's national security. Others say the U.S. war in Iraq was unjustified and South Korea shouldn't send soldiers.

The earlier dispatch of non-combat troops prompted protests in Seoul.

President Roh has also said he fears that if South Korea is distracted by operations in Iraq, North Korea could take measures that would cause a deterioration of the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

The U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted the resolution calling for international support of the reconstruction effort on Thursday. The vote was seen as a diplomatic victory for Washington after the bitter international dispute over the war.

Some 37,000 U.S. troops are based in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War (search).