Korean troops going to oil-rich South Sudan

Korea announced yesterday it will send 300 peacekeeping troops to the Republic of South Sudan in Africa early next year in order to help the country’s reconstruction.

According to the Ministry of National Defense, it has decided to send military engineers and medical teams to the town of Bor, the capital of Jonglei state, after an inspection mission.

The Defense Ministry said Bor is near the country’s capital city of Juba and is relatively safe.

“We’ve submitted our inspection report to the government,” a spokesman of the Defense Ministry said. “Korea will help South Sudan in transporting the country’s goods by cooperating with Japan’s Self-Defense Forces.”

The move comes after UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon asked Korea to consider sending peacekeeping troops to South Sudan during the G-20 Summit in France in early November.

The Defense Ministry spokesman said it expects the National Assembly to confirm the dispatch by the end of the year so it can send an advance contingent to construct a base as soon as possible.

The official said sending Korean troops is important because South Sudan is a major African oil producer.

By Jeong Yong-soo [sakwon80@joongang.co.kr]