South Korea Extends Mandate of its Peacekeepers in Lebanon
South Korea”s parliament authorized on Wednesday some 360 troops to stay in Lebanon until the end of next year as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.
The contingent is stationed around the southern port city of Tyre. Its mandate would have expired on Sunday without parliament”s extension.
The U.N. mounted a multinational mission in southern Lebanon following the devastating war in 2006 between Israel and Hizbullah. Seoul”s troops joined the operation in July 2007.
The South Korean military unit, called Dongmyeong (East Light), carries out reconnaissance and surveillance, helps construct schools and other public buildings and provides medical and educational services.
Seoul has sought a greater role in maintaining international peace and security in recent years. The defense ministry last month announced plans to set up a 3,000-strong dedicated unit for U.N. peacekeeping missions.
The country has also deployed forces overseas on non-U.N. missions. It sent engineering and medical troops to Afghanistan in 2002 and withdrew them in December 2007.
South Korean non-combat troops in Iraq were pulled out last December after four years.
This year the country sent a destroyer carrying a crew of 300 to join an international naval force fighting pirates off Somalia.