President Roh Moo Hyun agreed last year to send troops to Iraq at the request of the United States and urged Parliament in December to endorse the troop dispatch for peacekeeping and reconstruction work.

Officials said the troops, including about 800 combatants, will be deployed in April in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk.

The contingent will be the third-largest in the war-torn country after the United States and Britain.

The last time South Korea sent combat forces overseas was nearly 40 years ago to Vietnam.

The contingent includes special commandos deployed abroad for the first time since their unit was formed in 1983.

South Korea has some 400 non-combat troops in Iraq. The new deployment will bring the figure to around 3,600.

The Japan Times Weekly: Feb. 21, 2004
(C) All rights reserved