The National Assembly Defense Committee endorsed Friday the government's promise to commit up to 500 non-combatant troops to the US-led war against terrorism. The endorsement allows for one medical, naval and air force transport units to be dispatched for up to 13 months. The cost of the deployment has been estimated at W14.76 billion for this year and W44 billion for 2002.

(Heong Seok-joon, udo@chosun.com )