S. Korea, Japan discuss joint support for Afghanistan

SEOUL, Jan. 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and Japan will hold working-level talks
next week to discuss ways of cooperating on aiding Afghanistan, officials here
said Thursday.
The meeting slated for Jan. 30 in Seoul between director general-level officials
from the two nations' foreign ministries is aimed at implementing the latest
summit deal between their leaders.
President Lee Myung-bak and Prime Minister Taro Aso agreed at their talks on Jan.
12 to step up joint efforts in dealing with global issues, including Afghanistan.

South Korea and Japan are considering working together in several other sectors
as well, including vocational training and agriculture.
"The two sides plan to announce selected joint development assistance projects in
their foreign ministerial talks next month (in Seoul)," a South Korean foreign
ministry official said.
South Korea is separately seeking to expand its own role in the war-ravaged nation.
Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan told Yonhap News Agency in an interview earlier
this month that Seoul is pushing for additional contributions there.
"The government is seeking appropriate ways to contribute in consideration of
local needs, relevant conditions and our capacity," he said. "We would like to
leave all possibilities open."
South Korea withdrew its 200-strong military medics and engineers from
Afghanistan in 2007, ending its six-year mission. To make up for the troop
pullout, South Korea has maintained a civilian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team
(PRT), composed of about two dozen medical staff and vocational training experts,
in the region.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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