The government held a cabinet meeting presided over by President Roh Moo-hyun, following Roh’s statement Wednesday that if Seoul is to dispatch troops, it needs something predictable about the security of the peninsula. The meeting is interpreted as a confirmation of Seoul's position that it may link North Korea’s nuclear weapons and the six-way talks with the question of sending soldiers to Iraq.

“The most important factor we must consider is the peace and security of the Korean Peninsula,” Roh said.

Regarding the "positive outlook," a Foreign Ministry official explained, “This means that a compromise must be made between the Korean and U.S. wish for North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons first and North Korea’s position to go into simultaneous step-by-step actions toward a dismantlement of its programs.”

The government said the dispatch decision would be made based on research and evaluation of various factors, such as international public opinion and trends, the effects it will have on Korea's security and well-being and the situations in Iraq.

As soon as the investigative team sent to Iraq comes back, the government will provide information needed for the people to make an informed judgment, Yoon said. (Shin Jung-rok, jrshin@chosun.com )