U.S. Confirm Korea’s Plan to Dispatch Additional Troops to Iraq

The U.S. Department of Defense announced that National Security Advisor Kwon Jin-ho, who is currently visiting the U.S., met with the Secretary of State Colin Powell on June 2 and reconfirmed Korea’s plan to dispatch additional troops to Iraq.

On this day, U.S. State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher stated, “Secretary Powell expressed his gratitude towards the Korean government and its people’s understanding on the issues of dispatching additional Korean troops as well as stationing U.S. Forces in Korea in Iraq.”

Advisor Kwon met with Secretary Powell and discussed the situation in Iraq along with the preparation of a third six-way talk on North Korea’s nuclear program as well as strengthening the cooperation between South Korea and the U.S.

During the hearing for the House International Relations Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly stressed that there was no change in the U.S. plan to maintain its deterrent force against North Korea’s nuclear program in relation to the reduction of U.S. Forces in Korea due to the Global Defense Posture Review (GPR).

Assistant Secretary Kelly stated, “Besides the decision to send about 3,600 troops from two divisions and two brigades to Iraq, nothing has been finalized” and added, “I want to be clear about our determination to maintain a deterrent force against North Korea’s military risk in Korea.”

Soon-Taek Kwon maypole@donga.com