Foreign Minister Yoon Said, “The Scale of the Troops Has Not Been Decided"

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade (FAT) Yoon Young-kwan, on October 28, said, “The government has not decided on the scale, characteristics, or the time of the additional troop dispatch to Iraq.”

Yoon clarified this at the domestic and foreign press meeting at the FAT of the Central Government Complex in Sejongno, Seoul, and said, “The official of the National Security Counsel’s (NSC) reference on the scale of the troops, around 2,000 to 3,000 men, was not obtained from the government’s deliberation, but I think it was just an estimate.”

Yoon added, “The scale and timing of dispatch of the troops have to be decided with consideration of the results of the second survey team, consultation with the U.S., and domestic public opinion.” Minister of National Defense Cho Young-kil met the press on the morning before the cabinet council and said, “Because the region and the mission of the troops have not been decided, we haven’t reached the stage - discussing the scale of the troops – yet.” In connection with the second six-way talks, Yoon said, “The schedule of the talks is not being discussed with the related nations,” and added, “The government hopes that the six-way talks will be held as soon as possible and expects to it in the early or the middle of December at the latest.”

Meantime, Minister of Unification Jung Se-hyun, at this day’s social meeting with the foreign press at the Korea Press Foundation in Jung-gu, Seoul, said, “When the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People`s Congress, Wu Bangguo, visits North Korea (from October 29 through 31), there will be an advancement in the second six-way talks.”

In relation to North Korea’s point man for inter-Korean affairs in the North’s Workers Party Kim Yong-sun’s death, Jung said, “He might have various roles in North Korea, but because of the fact that he was the person responsible for exchange and cooperation between South and North Korea, I express my condolence,” and added, “But I did not communicate it in written form at the position of the government.”

Young-Sik Kim spear@donga.com