ID :
38206
Wed, 12/31/2008 - 08:45
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/38206
The shortlink copeid
Seoul to set up army of PKO troops, boost contribution to peace
SEOUL, Dec. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will likely set up a standing army of troops next year for rapid deployment to U.N. peacekeeping operations (PKOs) in conflict areas, a move that will significantly boost its contribution to maintaining world peace.
A bill is now under deliberation by parliament's committee on unification, trade
and foreign affairs, which, if enacted, will create a standing army of 3,000
troops for U.N. PKO missions.
Currently, 394 South Korean troops and military officials are deployed to U.N.
peacekeeping operations in seven countries, including Lebanon, India and
Pakistan.
The move to expand the country's contribution to peace-building efforts comes
after a long delay since former Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon was elected
secretary-general of the United Nations two years ago.
Seoul's financial contribution to the world body was the world's 11th-largest at
the end of 2006, but its participation in U.N. peacekeeping operations remained
one of the lowest, lagging behind some 80 other countries, according to
officials.
"The government welcomes the bill, as it will expand our military's role in the
international community to a level that will be compatible with the country's
reputation and role in the world," Won Tae-jae, a spokesman for the defense
ministry, said.
The establishment of ready troops for U.N. operations is also aimed at meeting
the rising demand for immediate deployment of forces to conflict areas, according
to Rep. Song Young-sun, who proposed the bill.
"The focus of international peacekeeping activities is shifting to rapid
deployment of troops based on the U.N. Stand-by Arrangements System, but our
military is unable to respond immediately to requests by the United Nations, as
there is no law on the dispatch of troops," the legislator said, citing his
reason for proposing the bill.
Won said the government will seek to establish a standing PKO force regardless of
the bill's enactment, but noted such a bill should also allow the deployment of
troops not only to U.N. operations, but also to missions led by multinational
forces.
The bill proposed by Rep. Song, a former member of the ruling Grand National
Party (GNP), seeks to limit troop deployment to only U.N.-sanctioned peacekeeping
operations.
Instead, the ministry is hoping to see a compromise between the bill and another
bill submitted earlier this month by GNP's Rep. Kim Moo-sung, which would allow
swifter deployment of troops to peacekeeping operations led either by the United
Nations or a multinational contingent.
"We do want to see a more comprehensive expansion of our military's role that
will include activities in multinational forces, so we do wish to see a
negotiated bill of the two that will allow the establishment of a PKO unit and
swift deployment of its troops to any types of conflict areas where the
government chooses to send troops," Won said.
The government's wish to be able to send troops to non-U.N. related missions
apparently comes after what it calls its "enormous success" in Iraq, where over
18,000 Korean troops served as part of the U.S.-led multinational forces during
the country's four-year deployment there that ended Dec. 19.
"The experience of over 18,000 service members who have served in Iraq will
continue to provide a basis for building an advanced military," the defense
ministry said in a recent press release.
"Their deployment contributed significantly to the strengthening of the ROK-U.S.
alliance, as they were able to provide assistance to the United States where they
most needed help," it said, referring to South Korea by its official name, the
Republic of Korea.
As a first move to increase its contribution to international peacekeeping
efforts, South Korea is moving to dispatch warships to the piracy-ridden waters
off Somalia next year, according to defense ministry officials.
Seoul has also been asked repeatedly by the U.S. to increase its support for the
U.S.-led war in Afghanistan.
The country, however, remains cautious in recommitting itself militarily in
Afghanistan, from which it was forced to withdraw all its troops late last year
upon the expiration of a parliament-approved deployment.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
A bill is now under deliberation by parliament's committee on unification, trade
and foreign affairs, which, if enacted, will create a standing army of 3,000
troops for U.N. PKO missions.
Currently, 394 South Korean troops and military officials are deployed to U.N.
peacekeeping operations in seven countries, including Lebanon, India and
Pakistan.
The move to expand the country's contribution to peace-building efforts comes
after a long delay since former Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon was elected
secretary-general of the United Nations two years ago.
Seoul's financial contribution to the world body was the world's 11th-largest at
the end of 2006, but its participation in U.N. peacekeeping operations remained
one of the lowest, lagging behind some 80 other countries, according to
officials.
"The government welcomes the bill, as it will expand our military's role in the
international community to a level that will be compatible with the country's
reputation and role in the world," Won Tae-jae, a spokesman for the defense
ministry, said.
The establishment of ready troops for U.N. operations is also aimed at meeting
the rising demand for immediate deployment of forces to conflict areas, according
to Rep. Song Young-sun, who proposed the bill.
"The focus of international peacekeeping activities is shifting to rapid
deployment of troops based on the U.N. Stand-by Arrangements System, but our
military is unable to respond immediately to requests by the United Nations, as
there is no law on the dispatch of troops," the legislator said, citing his
reason for proposing the bill.
Won said the government will seek to establish a standing PKO force regardless of
the bill's enactment, but noted such a bill should also allow the deployment of
troops not only to U.N. operations, but also to missions led by multinational
forces.
The bill proposed by Rep. Song, a former member of the ruling Grand National
Party (GNP), seeks to limit troop deployment to only U.N.-sanctioned peacekeeping
operations.
Instead, the ministry is hoping to see a compromise between the bill and another
bill submitted earlier this month by GNP's Rep. Kim Moo-sung, which would allow
swifter deployment of troops to peacekeeping operations led either by the United
Nations or a multinational contingent.
"We do want to see a more comprehensive expansion of our military's role that
will include activities in multinational forces, so we do wish to see a
negotiated bill of the two that will allow the establishment of a PKO unit and
swift deployment of its troops to any types of conflict areas where the
government chooses to send troops," Won said.
The government's wish to be able to send troops to non-U.N. related missions
apparently comes after what it calls its "enormous success" in Iraq, where over
18,000 Korean troops served as part of the U.S.-led multinational forces during
the country's four-year deployment there that ended Dec. 19.
"The experience of over 18,000 service members who have served in Iraq will
continue to provide a basis for building an advanced military," the defense
ministry said in a recent press release.
"Their deployment contributed significantly to the strengthening of the ROK-U.S.
alliance, as they were able to provide assistance to the United States where they
most needed help," it said, referring to South Korea by its official name, the
Republic of Korea.
As a first move to increase its contribution to international peacekeeping
efforts, South Korea is moving to dispatch warships to the piracy-ridden waters
off Somalia next year, according to defense ministry officials.
Seoul has also been asked repeatedly by the U.S. to increase its support for the
U.S.-led war in Afghanistan.
The country, however, remains cautious in recommitting itself militarily in
Afghanistan, from which it was forced to withdraw all its troops late last year
upon the expiration of a parliament-approved deployment.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
