S. Korea rethinks Iraq troop plan
SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- South Korea has canceled plans to send 3,000 troops to the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk due to security concerns, and is working with the United States to decide on a more suitable location for its troops to be deployed.
The South Korean Defense Ministry said Friday the United States had proposed that U.S. troops work under the command of Korean troops in Kirkuk in an offensive capacity.
However, Seoul said that proposal was against the mandate approved by its National Assembly, which was for peacekeeping and reconstruction missions.
"With close cooperation with the United States, we will decide a location where we can perform the peacekeeping and reconstruction missions under more stable conditions, as well as the date for the deployment," a Defense Ministry statement said.
The statement said the United States and South Korea "share the view" of selecting a new region for the South Korean troops to be deployed.
The 3,000 troops were to be deployed in early April. About 600 South Korean troops are already in Iraq.
When the additional troops arrive, South Korea will have the third largest contingent of troops in Iraq, behind the United States and Britain.
-- CNN Correspondent Sohn Jie-Ae contributed to this report
