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Seoul Decides to Send Non-Combat Troops for US Anti-Terrorism War
South Korea Monday decided to send out a field hospital, transport aircraft and ships and other non-combat troops to support the U.S. anti-terrorism war.
The decision was made at a meeting of the South Korean National Security Council chaired by Unification Minister Hong Soon-young Monday morning, said presidential security secretary Kim Ha-joong.
The amount of cost-sharing for the dispatch of non-combat troops will be determined later on, said Kim.
South Korea will not rule out the possibility of dispatch of combat troops if situation needs, said Kim. So far, Washington has not requested Seoul to dispatch combat troops.
Under the decision, Seoul will send a liaison team to Washington for coordination against terrorism and establish a terrorism countermeasure center at the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Meanwhile, the South Korean government will review the issues in overall consideration of the international trend, U.S. requests, public consensus and South Korea's relations with Middle East and Arab nations, said the presidential security secretary.
The decision to dispatch non-combat troops has to get an approval of the South Korean National Assembly, or parliament, according to the country's law.
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