Upon parliamentary approval, South Korea will send more troops to Iraq without delay, President Roh Moo-hyun promised on Wednesday in Seoul during a meeting with a fact-finding delegation returning from Iraq. He stated that South Korea should contribute to the coalition forces in Iraq in exchange for Washington's assistance in addressing the confrontation arising from North Korea's nuclear weapons program. He confirmed that lawmakers intend to discuss the deployment of soldiers before making any decisions. Currently, about 400 non-combat South Korean soldiers are in Iraq. Meanwhile, a senior army officer in Thailand stated that his country will keep 433 soldiers from medical and engineering units in Iraq, at least for now. Their six-month mission will expire in March.
South Korea to Send More Troops to Iraq Upon Parliamentary Approval - 2003-12-03
South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun announced plans to send more troops to Iraq following parliamentary approval, emphasizing the need for South Korea to support U.S. efforts regarding North Korea's nuclear issue. Currently, there are about 400 South Korean non-combat troops in Iraq, and discussions are ongoing among lawmakers about the deployment.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
South Korea's President Roh Moo-hyun announced plans to increase troop deployment to Iraq, contingent on parliamentary approval, to support U.S. efforts while addressing North Korea's nuclear threats. Currently, South Korea has around 400 non-combat troops in Iraq.
- South Korea currently has 400 non-combat troops in Iraq.
- The decision to send more troops is linked to U.S. support regarding North Korea's nuclear program.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
In the early 2000s, the U.S. was involved in Iraq following the invasion in 2003, and North Korea's nuclear program was a growing concern for regional stability in East Asia.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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