Five Policemen to Be Dispatched to Iraq
Korean police will leave for Iraq Tuesday on a mission to protect and support the activities of Korean diplomats there, amid the unstable situation in Iraq, the National Policy Agency said Monday.
Of about 60 applicants, five policemen were selected through a five-step screening process.
This special mission was initiated in January by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to ensure the safety of Korean diplomats in Iraq and to fend off possible terrorist acts.
``It is the first time the police have dispatched its members outside Korea for security reasons,'' said the police agency. ``They will stay in Iraq for about one year.''
The five finalists have gone through an intensified training program including martial arts instruction, firearms training and foreign language studies for the last three months in preparation for any emergency situation that may occur.