Despite that the two allies agreed to move ahead with additional negotiations until the end of this year for the relocation issue, the planned relocation of Yongsan compound by the end of 2006 is unlikely to be achieved, observers said.

Korea and the United States convened their annual Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) at the Ministry of Defense (MOD) on Monday, with MOD Minister Cho Young-kil and U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld at the head of the delegations.

On the issue of a troop dispatch to Iraq, a high-ranking MOD official said that the Korean delegation explained to its U.S. counterpart in the meeting that the Korean government has been considering two options: either sending about 3,000 non-combat soldiers, including engineers and medics, or sending about the same number of combat troops for peacekeeping missions.

In response, the U.S. delegation said it would respect the Korean government's decision on the troop dispatch.

The two countries agreed to continue negotiations to refine issues concerning the troop dispatch, including the specific region in Iraq that the Korean troops will be sent to, a timetable for the dispatch, and the composition of the Korean force.

In a press conference after the meeting, Rumsfeld said both governments would have to make their own decision on how to provide the best possible support for the troop dispatch. He said that the United States would honor the Korean government's decision on the issue.

Meanwhile, Lee Bong-jo, the head of policy coordination bureau at Korea's National Security Council (NCS), said that day that Washington has accepted Korea's proposal to send about 3,000 soldiers to Iraq. He cited the U.S, delegation's remarks that it would honor the Korean government's decision on the troop dispatch.

On the issue of relocating Yongsan Garrison, the two parties failed to iron out differences over how much land the U.S. Army should return to Korea, and the narrower issue of moving the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command and United Nations Command out of Seoul.

The two defense chiefs reaffirmed an earlier agreement between the two countries that the U.S, forces would be relocated in two regions south of the Han River through a two-phase relocation plans. They said the first-phase relocation would be carried out as early as possible, and for the second-phase plan, the chief executives of the two nations will have to decide later how to move forward.

Commenting on the possibility of Washington's reducing its forces in Korea, Minister Cho said the two delegations did not discuss the issue, adding that it is premature for the two nations to begin talking about a troop cut.

Cho, however, said the United States has agreed to turn over eight of its 10 specific missions that its forces in Korea have been conducting over to the Korean army, according to the relocation plan. The remaining two missions are to be transferred to Korea in phases, in consideration of the Korean army's capability.

After the meeting, the U.S. defense secretary paid a courtesy call to President Roh Moo-hyun in the afternoon. (Yoo Yong-won, kysu@chosun.com )