US expects Seoul to offer economic assistance to Afghanistan if it has difficulty sending troops; Two US military bases in central Korea likely to be closed in 2010;
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  • Even as South Korean Ambassador to the US Han Duck-soo suggested that President Obama will not ask President Lee Myung-bak to send South Korean troops to Afghanistan when they meet in Seoul in November 2009, reports noted that South Korea was carefully considering the deployment of military or police troops to Afghanistan to protect its civilian aid workers operating in the war-torn country.1

    Reports noted that two US military bases in central Korea will likely close in 2010 as part of ongoing plans to consolidate American forces. The US has currently 28,500 troops stationed in Korea as a deterrent against North Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War that ended in a truce instead of a peace treaty.2

    South Korea's finance ministry sources indicated that a 30 percent increase in budget spending aimed at supporting inter-Korean economic cooperation projects for next year will be proposed.3

    North Korean leader Kim Jong-il told the visiting Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao that his country will return to the Six-Party talks depending on the outcome of discussions with the US.4 Wen also asserted that China seeks to further promote relations with North Korea "in all areas." Report also noted that Pyongyang was apparently eager to reciprocate Wen’s sentiments as it has signed a deal to build a bridge over the Amrok River bordering China and North Korea in addition to existing ones.5

    South Korea is to launch a 3,000-strong military unit in 2010 that can be readily deployed overseas for peacekeeping operations. The unit will consist of a 1,000-strong Special Forces unit from the country's Special Warfare Command, along with additional troops who can be deployed as a back-up.6

    The UN envoy for North Korea Vitit Muntarbhorn criticized the human rights situation in that country as "abysmal" and stated that one-third of the country's population was going hungry needlessly. Pointing out that the UN could help fewer than two million people due to a shortfall in aid, the envoy urged Pyongyang to drop its "military first" policy.7

    A report of a task force commissioned by the Asia Society meanwhile urged the Obama administration to engage economically with North Korea on a long-term basis to complement the short-term denuclearization efforts.8 In other developments, reports suggested that North Korea employs over 3,000 workers in 20 facilities connected to its nuclear program.9

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