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About 100 marines and 500 commandos are to be added to the Iraq dispatch, and be responsible for guard duties and peacekeeping in the designated area.
An official at the Ministry of Defense said Sunday that the ministry is reviewing various plans in which to include the marines and commandos, in addition to the Special Warfare Command, for the guard duties and peacekeeping. The official said that apart from 1,500 guard and peacekeeping troops, it is likely that a company of marines (about 100 soldiers) and a battalion of Army Special Forces (about 500 soldiers) would be added to the dispatch troops to Iraq.
The Korean Marine Corps were first deployed overseas in 1965, during the Vietnam War. It is second overseas dispatch for the marines, excluding 2002, when 26 Marine Corps were sent to Afghanistan to guard a medical unit. The commando units were first established in 1983 to defend against a rear attack from North Korea. The commandos have never been sent abroad before.
Altogether, the Special Warfare Command will be around 1,000 soldiers, less than what many had expected. A plan to run the divisional general staff office under 20 army and air force officers is being reviewed.
(Yoo Yong-won, kysu@chosun.com )
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