South Korea to withdraw troops from Iraq by end of 2008

BAGHDAD , Sept. 19 (Iraqi News) – The official spokesman for the Korean defense ministry said on Friday that his country will withdraw the rest of its forces in Iraq by the end of 2008. “The Korean forces’ work in Iraq was extended last December on condition that the withdrawal to be completed by the end of 2008,” the spokesman said at a press conference held today in Seoul . South Korea sent troops to the northern Iraq city of Arbil in 2004 to support U.S.-led actions there, but has been gradually reducing its presence. The deployment is unpopular among South Koreans, mainly due to security concerns. In June 2004, unknown gunmen beheaded a South Korean civilian working in Iraq after Seoul rejected demands to withdraw its troops. South Korea has now less than 600 soldiers in the relatively safe Iraq ’s Kurdistan region. SH (P) 1