U.S. wants S. Korea to send reconstruction troops to Afghanistan: source

SEOUL, May 12 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. has recently conveyed to South Korea its hope
that the ally will deploy a group of military engineers to aid reconstruction
efforts in Afghanistan, a source here said Tuesday.
"I believe officials at the U.S. Department of Defense recently indicated through
the Combined Forces Command (CFC) and U.S. generals stationed here that they hope
South Korea will contribute a unit of military engineers," the source said on
condition of anonymity.
South Korea withdrew its 200-strong team of military medics and engineers from
Afghanistan in 2007, ending several years of deployment under a U.S.-led campaign
there against the Taliban.
Earlier this month, South Korea announced it would spend US$19.5 million to build
a hospital and a job training center in Afghanistan before the end of this year.
Observers have suggested the U.S. would soon ask South Korea to redeploy troops
to Afghanistan, although the Barack Obama administration has yet to make a formal
request.
In 2004, South Korea sent thousands of troops to Iraq. The Zaytun unit was
brought back home last year.
About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed here under the CFC command as a deterrent
against North Korea.
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