Three U.S. officials who attended meetings in Seoul early this month - Richard Lawless, from the Defense Department, Christopher LaFleur, from the State Department and Thomas Hubbard, the American ambassador - reportedly made the request Sept. 4, when they went to Cheong Wa Dae and met with high-ranking officials.

The size of the Polish division appears to be a unit composed of support groups such as headquarters, communications, logistics and administration personnel, as well as a combat brigade. Poland has about 2,400 troops in Iraq - but the division is augmented by another 9,300 soldiers from 21 countries, and the number of non-Polish in the division is increasing.

The source noted that the decision on whether Seoul sends troops, with sovereign rights, needs to wait until further discussion is held with the United States. If Seoul decides to send combat troops, they would probably serve for about one year, and Seoul would bear the costs to ensure that it executes the operation independently.

Another high-ranking military official said that the government may study a plan calling for 2,000 Korean troops to go to Iraq, including one brigade of specific warfare command, which is 1,400 troops, and supporting troops. He said that the military, considering the situation in Iraq, would deem it preferable to send special forces troops rather than regular infantry. (Kwon Kyoung-bok, kkb@chosun.com )