S. Korea ends Iraq deployment

[unhappycamper]

South Korean Vice Adm. Kim Choong-ryon toasts with U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Lloyd Austin III, Commander of Multi-National Corps-Iraq, during a ceremony to mark the end of South Korea's mission at Camp Zaytun in Irbil, Iraq on Dec. 1.


S. Korea ends Iraq deployment
By Chelsea J. Carter - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Dec 1, 2008 17:56:44 EST

IRBIL, Iraq — A South Korean general offered a wish for peace in Iraq on Monday as his troops ended a five-year reconstruction mission in the country — the latest departure from the dwindling U.S.-led coalition.

The South Koreans are among troops from 13 countries being sent home in advance of the Dec. 31 expiration of the U.N. mandate that authorized military operations in Iraq. The South Koreans will begin leaving Wednesday and are all due to depart by Dec. 20, the country’s military said.

“Although we are leaving this place, all of us are going to sincerely wish for the peace and prosperity of the government of Iraq and successful fulfillment of our allies’ missions,” Maj. Gen. Park Sun-Woo said during a brief ceremony in Irbil, 220 miles north of Baghdad.

The first South Korean “Zaytun” contingent — the Arabic word for olive and the troops’ code name for their mission — was sent to Irbil in September 2004 with 3,600 troops. About 520 troops will be part of this month’s withdrawal.

At its height, the coalition numbered about 300,000 soldiers from 38 countries — 250,000 from the U.S., about 40,000 from Britain, and the rest ranging from 2,000 Australians to 70 Albanians.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/12/ap_south_korea_120108/%2e