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Afghanistan
S. Korea rules out redeploying troops to Afghanistan
2009-05-06
SEOUL, May 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is not considering the redeployment of its troops to Afghanistan, a spokesman said Monday, dismissing a media report that the United States is pressing for a redispatch.
Thanks for being there for us.
"The U.S. government has presented no such demand to South Korea," Foreign Ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young said in a press briefing.

Quoting an unidentified government official, the Hankyoreh newspaper said Washington has requested Seoul to redispatch its troops and expand financial support for U.S.-led reconstruction projects in the war-torn country. The report said the U.S. request came shortly after Richard Holbrooke, the U.S. special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, visited Seoul on April 16 on his way to an international forum in Tokyo to meet with President Lee Myung-bak and Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan.
What forces do we have in South Korea that can re-deploy?
Seoul officials said South Korea promised it would consider increasing its practical assistance to Afghanistan but that the troop redeployment was not on table. The Hankyoreh report said the two countries will further discuss the issue when Lee holds a summit with U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington on May 16.

"Our government is not considering the issue of redeploying troops to Afghanistan," Moon said.

South Korea withdrew a group of 200 non-combat troops -- mostly engineers and medics -- from Afghanistan in December 2007, ending its six-year contribution to the U.S.-led campaign to fight terrorism and rebuild the war-ravaged country.

The ministry spokesman said Seoul was considering expanding its role in the NATO-led provincial reconstruction team projects in Afghanistan. Officials have said Seoul plans to quadruple the number of its civilian volunteers there to over 90. Seoul contributed a total of US$66 million towards the reconstruction efforts and plans to offer $30 million more from 2009-2011.
Posted by:Steve White

#4  Quoting an unidentified government official,

Send troops to the reporter's Office and make a very public arrest, charge is Obtaining government secrets outside of official chanels.

Hold him until the "Unidentified" oficial is revealed, arrested and then charge them both with (Your choice)Treason, Dissimating official info Causing false info to be disseminated. (Etc) About 5 years each and banning from previous office, should suffice.
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2009-05-06 14:20  

#3  What? Are people thinking other countries would put their butts on the line to stop the Norks? We are the buffer. Take us away, you have none. War ensues.
Posted by: Ularong Bucket5147   2009-05-06 10:24  

#2  FREEREPUBLIC > US ARMY WAR COLLEGE STUDY: CHINA MAY [militarily]INTERVENE IFF NORTH KOREA COLLAPSES. Want a CHIN-CONTROLLED BUFFER STATE = COUNTRY-SIZED DMZ BWTN IT + US-SK-JAPAN.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2009-05-06 01:57  

#1  What forces do we have in South Korea that can re-deploy?

All of them.
Posted by: Gabby   2009-05-06 00:26  

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