South Korea's defense minister nominee on Thursday expressed skepticism over the pullout of the country's military contingent from Iraq, but he left open the possibility of further reducing the number next year.
"The government policy has yet to be set but the decision will be made given the achievements made so far, Iraq's demand and the alliance between South Korea and the United States," Kim Jang-soo said in a parliamentary confirmation hearing.
On Nov. 1, President Roh Moo-hyun designated Kim as the nation's new defense minister. He will replace Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung when the parliament endorses him.
South Korea plans to downsize its military contingent in Iraq to some 2,300 by the end of this year. The Zaytun unit, whose name means "olive" in Arabic, was deployed in late 2003 to help reconstruction efforts in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil. South Korea deployed some 3,300 troops in Irbil at the request of the U.S. government, which is spearheading a war against terrorists.
But the fate of the now 2,400-strong Zaytun unit depends on public opinion in South Korea because its deployment mandate is set to expire at the end of December. The country is sharply divided over whether or not to keep its contingent there beyond this deadline.
Calls for the withdrawal have been increasingly growing since the U.S. Democratic Party took control of both the House and the Senate in last week's midterm elections.
South Korea's government is actively soliciting public opinion before it decides whether to submit a bill for the extension of the troop presence in Iraq.
"The number of the Zaytun unit can be reduced further next year," Kim said, wary of the growing negative opinion of the continued deployment of the troops in the Middle Eastern country.
When asked about the possible dispatch of South Korean troops to Lebanon, Kim said the military can contribute "a certain number of troops" to U.N. peacekeeping forces there as soon as the government makes a decision.
But he pointed out that it is one thing to decide whether to extend the presence of the Zaytun unit in Iraq, while it is another to send troops to Lebanon.
In October, South Korea finished a field survey of Lebanon before deciding whether to contribute troops to U.N. peacekeeping forces there.
A survey team, consisting of four officials from the Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry and Joint Chiefs of Staff, conducted field and feasibility studies there for a week from Oct. 14.
SEOUL, Nov. 16 (Yonhap)
Defense minister nominee skeptical over Zaytun unit withdrawal |
