By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter

The government announced plans to send more civilian workers accompanied by security forces composed of police and non-combat troops to join global efforts to stabilize Afghanistan, Friday.

The plan is subject to the approval of the National Assembly.

The administration will conduct an on-site inspection in the war-torn Central Asian country and work out details, said Moon Tae-young, a spokesman at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

"Based on the results of the inspection, we will determine the number of civilian workers and security forces to protect them," Moon said.

The United States said it would welcome any Korean commitment to reviving the Afghan economy.

"We would welcome any and all contributions from our friends in South Korea," Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell told a press briefing Thursday. "They've been there a long time, and the notion that they are (pushing up) their contribution … if indeed that is the case - that would be most welcome news."

The government is considering increasing the number of the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) to about 130 to provide medical services, vocational education and police training programs, sources said.

About 300 security personnel to protect the civilians will also be dispatched, the sources said.

Currently, 25 Korean nationals are involved in medical services and vocational programs at the U.S. Bagram Air Base in Kabul.

The announcement came amid growing calls for humanitarian support from the international community as well as the Afghan government, the spokesman said.

Moon said the civilian workers will help strengthen governance, revive the country's economy, build infrastructure and offer humanitarian aid.

But he said that security forces will not engage in any action there unless workers face life-threatening attacks.

A ranking ministry official said the government will decide detailed reconstruction projects, the number of workers and security forces after consultations with the Afghan government and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Chairman Chung Sye-kyun of the major opposition Democratic Party (DP), however, indicated that his party may vote against the plan.

"Basically, the DP opposes sending troops unless it is aimed for peacekeeping operations," he said. "But it appears that the government plan is different from peacekeeping activities."

The nation withdrew more than 200 military medics and engineers from Afghanistan in 2007 after 23 Korean missionaries were kidnapped and two of them were killed by the Taliban.

ksy@koreatimes.co.kr