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S. Korean's embattled president mum on response to U.S. troop request

SEOUL — Bogged down in a political quagmire at home, South Korea's government has delayed its response to a request by the United States to deploy troops to Iraq.

A man watches televisions in Seoul showing the announcement by South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun that he would organise a vote of confidence in his own rule.
AFP/Kim Jae-Hwan
The country's embattled leader, Roh Moo-Hyun, announced earlier this week that he wants a referendum vote around Dec. 15 to determine whether or not he should remain in office. His aides say the decision on the Iraq troop dispatch may be delayed until after the vote.

Ban Ki-Moon, chief presidential adviser for foreign affairs, said Roh would not commit to the troop dispatch when he meets with President Bush next week. Roh and Bush are scheduled to meet Oct. 20 in Bangkok, on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

On Wednesday, hundreds of South Korean army engineers and medics left Seoul to replace non-combatant troops stationed in Iraq. A 466-strong non-combat unit will replace the 575-member unit that has been working since May at a U.S. base in the Iraqi town of Nassariya.

Some 10,000 South Korean war veterans and anti-communist activists took to the streets in downtown Seoul on Oct. 15 to call for a quick deployment of combat troops to assist the U.S.-led rebuilding of Iraq.

The U.S. has asked South Korea to dispatch thousands of combat troops to help stabilize the country. Washington had hoped for a decision on sending 5,000 South Korean troops by mid-October.

"The government should make a quick decision and accept the U.S. request," said Lee Sang-Hoon, head of the Korean Veterans Association. He described the United States as the "blood-tied" ally that rescued South Korea in the 1950-53 war with China-backed North Korea.

Recalling that more than 30,000 American soldiers were killed during the Korean War, Lee said South Korea "should repay the United States for its help by contributing to global peace."

The demonstrators, who gathered in front of the War Memorial of Korea near the Defense Ministry, marched through central Seoul, waving placards, saying "Quick troop dispatch to Iraq."

Demonstrators, many of them Korean War veterans clad in military uniforms, waved U.S. flags in support of the 37,000 American troops still stationed in South Korea to deter another attack from the North.
East-Asia-Intel, www.eas-asia-intel.com, October 17, 2003
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