YONHAP NEWS

S. Korea to consult with Afghan government on future contributions

By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to consult with the Afghan government over any additional contributions there, a top diplomat said Thursday, refuting media speculation that the U.S. may be pressing Seoul to provide military support.

Vice Foreign Minister Shin Kak-soo stressed Seoul's future role in the war-ravaged nation, a front line in the global fight against terrorism, will be decided "independently" in consideration of its capacity and international status, regardless of Washington's influence.

"Basically, it is a matter to be decided at our government's discretion," Shin said at the annual parliamentary audit of his ministry's affairs. He attended the session in lieu of Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan, who is accompanying President Lee Myung-bak on his trip to Southeast Asia. "It also requires sufficient consultations with the Afghan government."

   South Korea remains committed to making more contributions to Afghanistan to match its national power as the world's 13th largest economy, he added.

   Shin was responding to a barrage of questions from lawmakers who took issue with comments by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Shortly after arriving here on Wednesday for talks with his South Korean counterpart, Gates urged Seoul to play a bigger role in global security.

   "Korea's military must adapt and transform to new environments and new types of threats - to not only protect the homeland, but also transform into a force that can also carry out roles commensurate with its growing stature as a global Korea," he said in a speech for American troops stationed in Seoul. "We encourage the Republic of Korea's political leaders to make an investment in defense appropriate to Korea's emerging role as a contributor to global security and commensurate with the threat you face on the peninsula."

   Critics construed Gates' remarks as aimed at putting pressure on Seoul to dispatch its troops, credited as well-trained and well-disciplined, to Afghanistan, where around 67,000 soldiers from the U.S. and more than 40 of its allies are operating.

   South Korea ended several years of military presence in Afghanistan in 2007 by withdrawing its 200-strong team of military medics and engineers from the country after a South Korean soldier was killed in a terrorist bomb attack and about two dozen South Korean missionary workers were kidnapped by the Taliban. Two of them were executed, while all the others were released unharmed after lengthy negotiations between the captors and the South Korean authorities.

   While expanding its civilian-led reconstruction works there, Seoul has maintained an ambiguous stance on the possibility of sending troops there again.

   Many Koreans view the Afghan war more as the "war of the U.S." than an international campaign against terrorism.

   The conservative Lee administration is mindful that a troop dispatch move may rekindle anti-American sentiment and another round of political dogfighting.

   In private conversations with reporters, foreign ministry officials say the Obama administration is well aware of the reality.

   The Afghan issue was not formally discussed at the Security Consultative Meeting between Gates and his counterpart Kim Tae-young earlier Thursday.

   Gates confirmed South Korean official's remarks that Washington has not made any specific request for Seoul to offer military help.

   "That decision is entirely up to the government of the Republic of Korea," he said at the joint press conference, reiterating that the U.S. is in need of help from one of its closest allies and will welcome any form of contribution.

   A senior South Korean government official, meanwhile, said if the Afghan government formally asks Seoul for military support, the government will review its option in a "more serious manner."

   lcd@yna.co.kr
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