S. Korea to announce expanded role in Afghanistan

SEOUL, May 5 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is set to officially announce it will
contribute more to rebuilding Afghanistan, an effort that will include providing
medical and security equipment and increasing the number of civilian volunteers,
officials said Tuesday.
The announcement, expected to be made on Wednesday after its budget is approved
in a Cabinet meeting, will not redeploy troops to the war-torn country, but will
focus on reconstruction efforts, government officials said on condition of
anonymity.
"After looking into various ways to join the international community's
reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan, the government came up with several
measures that are feasible at this time," an official said.
South Korea operated a group of about 200 non-combat troops -- mostly medics and
engineers -- for six years in Afghanistan to contribute to the U.S.-led campaign
to fight terrorism and rebuild the war-ravaged country. The troops returned home
in December 2007.
The officials said Wednesday's announcement will feature plans to donate security
and medical equipment worth US$5 million by August, including 100 ambulances and
300 police patrol motorcycles.
South Korea will also expand its role in the NATO-led provincial reconstruction
team projects in Afghanistan, they said. The number of Korean civilian volunteers
working in regional projects will be increased to about 90 from the current 24,
and their mission, now centered on medical aid, will expand to vocational
training, building renovations, agricultural assistance and election support,
they said.
In particular, several police officers who are taekwondo masters will be
dispatched to help security operations, the officials said.
Despite denials from Seoul officials, local media reports have suggested that
South Korea is considering the redeployment of its troops to Afghanistan.
Speculation intensified after Richard Holbrooke, the U.S. special envoy to
Pakistan and Afghanistan, stopped in Seoul on April 16 on his way to an
international forum in Tokyo and met with President Lee and Foreign Minister Yu
Myung-hwan.
Last week, South Korea's Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Yong-joon visited Washington
to meet with a broad range of U.S. military and administration officials,
including Holbrooke.
In addition, Seoul's defense ministry was belatedly found on Tuesday to have
ordered one of its think tanks to conduct research into other nations'
contributions in Afghanistan in March.
Watchers suspect Seoul may announce an additional contribution when President Lee
Myung-bak holds a summit with U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington on May
16.
hkim@yna.co.kr
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