U.S. welcomes Seoul's plan for PRT, troop dispatch to Afghanistan: White House

By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 (Yonhap) -- The United States Friday welcomed South Korea's
plans to reinforce its civilian reconstruction team in Afghanistan and to send an
unspecified number of troops to protect them.

"We welcome the announcement by the government of the Republic of Korea to expand
its assistance to the Government of Afghanistan and its people by establishing a
Provincial Reconstruction Team, in addition to the Medical and Vocational
Training Team that South Korea is already operating," White House spokesman
Robert Gibbs said in a statement.
The South Korean Foreign Ministry announced earlier in the day that it has
decided to send a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) to Afghanistan aside from
its 25-member medical team currently operating in the war-ravaged Central Asian
nation.
Ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young also said the PRT will be accompanied by South
Korean troops to ensure their security.
Moon did not specify the size of the PRT or the number of troops, but Foreign
Minister Yu Myung-hwan said earlier this week that Seoul was considering sending
a 130-strong PRT, and Defense Ministry officials have estimated the number of
troops at 300.
"This is an important contribution to the international effort in Afghanistan and
to fostering reconstruction and stability in the region," Gibbs said. "The U.S.
will continue to work closely in partnership with Korea as we support the people
and government of Afghanistan."
The announcement for the PRT and troop dispatch comes just a couple of weeks
before U.S. President Barack Obama's planned visit to South Korea in mid
November.
Obama is under pressure by the U.S. military to dispatch 40,000 more troops to
Afghanistan, where the Taliban insurgency is gaining power, despite the presence
of about 68,000 American troops already there.
The U.S. State Department issued a statement to stress the decision was made by
South Korea at the request of Afghanistan, apparently targeting South Korean
critics who say Seoul's decision was made under U.S. pressure.
"The government of the ROK has stated that it made this decision in response to
the government of Afghanistan's request for assistance," State Department
spokesman Ian Kelly said in a statement. "The Korean government made its own
determination regarding the assistance it can provide."
Kelly lauded Seoul's decision as having reflected its "growing commitment to
addressing problems of global concern."
"We consider the ROK to be a vital partner in such efforts," he said. "We are
confident that this assistance will be of great value to the people of
Afghanistan."
South Korea withdrew more than 200 military medics and engineers from Afghanistan
in 2007 after 23 South Korean Christian missionaries were held captive. Two of
them were killed and the rest released after the Seoul government pledged to
withdraw the troops by the end of that year.
South Korea currently maintains 25 medical civilians at a U.S. base in Afghanistan.
Geoff Morrell, Pentagon spokesman, said Thursday the U.S. hoped South Korea will
make contributions to Afghanistan commensurate to its national power.
"In Japan's case, they're the second-largest economy in the world; in Korea's
case, a top-15 economy in the world," Morrell said. "There is a certain
responsibility that comes with countries of that power and that wealth, to
contribute to this international effort in Afghanistan. And so we are welcoming
of whether it be additional forces, or money, or PRTs, or expertise. Any and all
would be appreciated."
Yu, South Korea's top diplomat, has said that increased aid to Afghanistan by
South Korea is linked to the stable deployment of 28,500 U.S. troops in the
Korean Peninsula, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War.
Yu made the remarks just days after Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, told U.S. soldiers at Yongsan Army Garrison in Seoul last
Thursday that discussions are under way about rotating U.S. troops in South
Korea, although he said, "I certainly wouldn't expect this to happen in the near
future."
Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in Seoul last week that South Koreans
themselves will make any decision on troop deployments or any other form of aid
to Afghanistan.
Gates, however, also said, "I see a different dynamic and logic to Korea's
international military role today. In the past, deployments were considered
something that Korea was doing for the United States. Going forward, Korea's
international military contributions should be seen as what they are: something
that is done to benefit your own security and vital national interests."
hdh@yna.co.kr
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