South Korean parliament endorses sending troops back to Afghanistan
By APThursday, February 25, 2010
SKorea endorses sending troops back to Afghanistan
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea’s legislature has approved sending troops back to Afghanistan after withdrawing them in 2007.
The National Assembly approved Thursday a government proposal to send 350 troops to protect South Korean civilian aid workers in the volatile country.
The troops will be deployed in central Parwan province from this July to the end of 2012.
In 2007, the Taliban held a group of South Korean Christians and demanded Seoul pull out its troops. Two of the hostages were killed before the rest were freed.
Seoul subsequently withdrew 200 army medics and engineers but said the pullout was previously planned.
Two months ago, the Taliban threatened retaliation against South Korea after the government announced it planned to send its forces back.
