|
Fact finders are to visit Afghanistan
|
November 20, 2009
|
The Korean military plans to send a fact-finding unit to Afghanistan in late November or early December to assess the security situation before dispatching troops to protect Korean aid workers there.
A military official said it was necessary to make up to two trips to Afghanistan to determine the number of troops and the degree to which they will be armed in the war-torn nation. Earlier this week, an interagency unit, largely made up of Foreign Ministry officials, completed its first trip to Afghanistan. Representatives met with their counterparts from the Afghan government and NATO forces.
“The delegation will include specialists in military operations, engineering and medicine,” an official said. According to another official, the military delegation will visit the province of Parwan, north of the capital city Kabul. On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan said Korea is eyeing Parwan for possible deployment.
While the military prepares for its mission, the main opposition Democratic Party is having difficulty deciding whether to support sending troops. At the party’s general assembly yesterday, DP members failed to resolve the issue. On Monday, the DP leadership said it would protest the move. A party official said more than 90 percent of party members were against troop deployment.
By Yoo Jee-ho [jeeho@joongang.co.kr]
|
