Korean defense chief vows continued peacekeeping efforts in Lebanon

By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Nov. 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Defense Minister urged a South Korean contingent in Lebanon to continue to fulfill its peacekeeping mission during his visit to the Middle Eastern country over the weekend, the Defense Ministry said Sunday.

Minister Lee Sang-hee said the "Dongmyeong" unit must continue to do its best to
accomplish its mission as part of United Nations peacekeeping operations in the
country, and urged unit members to live up to their role as "military diplomats,"
the ministry said.
South Korea currently maintains some 360 troops in Lebanon's southern city of
Tyre as part of the U.N. Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL). Lebanon's National
Assembly in July approved a one-year extension for troop deployment there.
Lee also met with Maj. Gen. Claudio Graziono, commander of UNIFIL, who briefed
him on current conditions in the country, according to ministry officials. The
South Korean minister thanked the UNIFIL commander for his support of the
Dongmyeong unit.
During his two-day visit that began Saturday, Lee also met with his Lebanese
counterpart Elias Murr to exchange views on current security conditions and
discuss ways to increase exchange and cooperation between their nations, the
ministry officials said.
"Minister Lee expressed deep gratitude to Minister Murr for the Lebanese
government's support for activities by the Dongmyeong unit as part of the UNIFIL
to help restore peace in Lebanon," the ministry said in a press release.
The Lebanese minister also thanked South Korea for its role in U.N. peacekeeping
operations while acknowledging the importance of those operations and South
Korea's role in his country, it said.
Lee was set to depart later Sunday for Saudi Arabia where he is scheduled to hold
talks with his counterpart Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, according to the
ministry.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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