The government will dispatch a military support team of mobile army surgical hospitals and transportation vehicles including aircraft and vessels as well as liaison officers for smooth cooperation with the US in the international retaliatory war against terrorism it was announced Monday. In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has organized a counter-terrorism task force and will share intelligence with its US counterpart. The ministry declared its active participation in the international anti-terrorist movement, and notified the US of this through diplomatic channels. Kim Ha-jung, floor leader of the National Security Council, said that government decided on the support measure for the US at an executive meeting, headed by Unification Minister Hong Soon-young at Cheong Wa Dae on Sunday.

Kim said that the government is not considering dispatching combat units at present, however, it will make a decision on the level of military engagement after a collective study on international trends, public opinion, diplomatic relations in the Middle East and other Arabic countries, campaign developments, and the degree of intensity of US requests for support.

Kim added that there has been no request for military dispatches from the US and the timing and budget for the support will be determined after discussions with Washington. Kim suggested that Korea would sponsor a certain share of the war expense, as it did in the Gulf War, when the country contributed US$500 million.

The government notified its decision to the leaders of the ruling and opposition parties, Han Gwang-ok, chairman of Millennium Democratic Party, Lee Hoi-chang, president of Grand National Party and Kim Jong-pil, honorary chairman of United Liberal Democrats and requested cooperation in obtaining a motion from the National Assembly.

Currently 122 nations have expressed their intention to support the US; Great Britain, France, Australia and New Zealand have promised full military cooperation while 18 countries including Japan, Germany, Spain and Pakistan have decided to send medical and transportation aid. The government’s support remains at a secondary level of munitions and logistic support, a level below the dispatching of military units.

(Kim Min-bae, baibai@chosun.com )