Defense Ministry Considers Deployment opf Peace Force to Afghan

Since the operation of the UN Peace Keeping Force is anticipated to begin soon after the surrender of Kabul, which was under the control of the Taliban, the dispatch of non-combatant Korean troops is being discussed in detail.

The Defense Ministry announced, ``By the official request of the U.S. for the dispatch of Medical Support Corps and Liaison Officer Team, [the Ministry] decided to send a liaison officer team led by a brigadier general to the Central Headquarters in Florida on Nov. 16 and another liaison officer team led by a colonial to the Pacific Headquarters in Hawaii on Nov. 17.``

An official of the Defense Ministry explained that ``The Ministry dispatched the liaison officer teams to the U.S. to adjust the details related with the duty, location, and the period of the dispatched troops. The U.S. requested for the dispatch of the Medical Support Corps and the Liaison Officer Teams for now, but it is anticipated that they will ask for the dispatch of the Marine and Air Transportation Corps soon.``

The Defense Ministry is planning to deploy a Medical Support Corps of 150 troops to Afghan at the end of this month or early next month right after the approval of the National Assembly.

In addition, it is acknowledged that the working group have discussed the plan that the Korean Army participates in the U.N.`s operation, in case that the U.N. establishes a Peace Keeping Force to preserve order in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry strongly denied the possibility of the dispatch of combatant troops, saying ``we have never received the request for the dispatch of combatant troops from the U.S. and have never reviewed its possibility.``

Dong-Ki Sung estrit@donga.com