Rumsfeld, “Grateful to President Roh’s Visit to the Zaytun Unit”

It was known that U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld (pictured) expressed gratitude to President Roh’s recent visit of encouragement to the Zaytun Unit stationed in Iraq through a telephone call to Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung on December 13.

Cheong Wa Dae’s spokesman Kim Jong-min announced yesterday that Secretary Rumsfeld stated in the telephone call with Minister Yoon, “It was a difficult visit, and (I) appreciate it. (I) have been thankful for Korea’s active cooperation in the PKOs in Afghanistan and elsewhere.”

Spokesman Kim also said that Vice President Rowsch Shaways of the Iraqi Interim Governing Council (IGC) visited the Zaytun Unit stationed in Arbil on December 10 to express gratitude for President Roh’s visit to Iraq.

Spokesman Kim conveyed that Vice President Shaways said before the Zaytun Unit, “The Iraqi government and the Iraqi people wish for the Zaytun Unit’s presence. Arbil is a region which suffered tremendous tragedy in the former regime, and I believe that it is very meaning that the Korean military is participating in the reconstruction here.”

Meanwhile, regarding the 40th and 41st Army Academy classes’ campaign to save the field grade officers arrested by the military prosecutors on the charge of corruption related to a promotion screening process of generals, Minister Yoon met with journalists right after the Cabinet meeting yesterday and said, “(It) is not a retaliation to the military prosecution, please regard it as a kind of display of love for their classmates.”

Jung-Hun Kim jnghn@donga.com