Cabinet Approves Extension of Troop Stay in Iraq

S. Korea to Pull 600 Forces Out of Iraq By Year-End

By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter

The Cabinet approved Tuesday a plan to extend the deployment of troops in Iraq for another year, however their numbers are to be cut by 600 to 650.

The government plans to submit a motion calling for extending the troops' humanitarian and reconstruction mission by the end of next year to the National Assembly in the coming weeks, officials said.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it will pull 250 forces out of Iraq by the end of next month and 350 more by the end of the year.

It will also withdraw 20 soldiers from the 135-member ``Daiman'' transport contingent based in Kuwait, JCS officials said.

Last week, President Roh Moo-hyun announced the plan for extending the presence of the Zaytun Division in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil and asked for support from all political parties.

Roh said his decision was aimed at strengthening ties with the United States, particularly at a time when multinational efforts to resolve the longstanding standoff over North Korea's nuclear weapons program were in full swing.

South Korea first deployed some 3,600 troops to the Kurdish-controlled region in 2004 to support the U.S.-led Operation Iraqi Freedom initiated in 2003 and help Iraqis reconstruct their war-torn country. Their mission has been extended for the third time since then with gradual troop reductions.

It remains to be seen whether Roh's decision will be approved by the National Assembly or not, as the pro-government United New Democratic Party opposes the plan.

The pro-government party has 141 seats in the 299-member Assembly. The Democratic Labor Party with nine seats is also against the extended troop presence.

The 129-member main opposition Grand National Party and the minor opposition Democratic Party with nine seats support the government plan. Even if the People First Party with five seats supports the plan, their cumulative vote would be short of a majority.

Supporters for the extension of deployment cite potential economic benefits such as an oil concessions in the Kurdish-controlled region and large-scale construction contracts.

On the other hand, war-weary lawmakers from the pro-government party and progressive civic groups have pledged to block the extended troop deployment. They argue that the projected economic gains are overblown and there is no reason to stay in Iraq at a time when many coalition forces are rushing to exit or reduce their military presence.

The four-year U.S. military death toll in Iraq has already reached 3,750, while the British army's death count has mounted to 170, according to reports.

The U.S. government has decided to reduce its troop-level by 57,000 to 130,000 next year, while the 6,700-strong British troops will be downsized to 2,500.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr

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