S. Korea Says No Troops for Afghan War

[unhappycamper]

S. Korea Says No Troops for Afghan War
December 24, 2008
Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea - The United States has asked South Korea if it could reassign the troops that it is pulling out of Iraq to Afghanistan, a Korean newspaper reported Dec. 22, but U.S. and South Korean officials denied that the request was made.

Such a redeployment request could signal that Washington will intensify its demand for its Asian ally to contribute troops for the war in Afghanistan, the Dong-a Ilbo newspaper said in its report.

The report said Washington made the request through the main U.S. military command in Iraq, the Multi-National Force-Iraq, right before South Korea began withdrawing some 520 troops from there earlier this month.

South Korea so far has stuck to its original pullout plan, telling the United States that for now, it is important to get the troops home safely, the paper said, citing unidentified South Korean military officials.

Defense Ministry spokesman Won Tae-jae denied the report, saying "We have not received such a request."


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/s-korea-says-no-troops-for-afghan-war.html?col=1186032310810