'Korea should send regimental combat team'; Leader of parliamentary.

(From The Korea Herald)

By Joo Sang-min The head of a parliamentary delegation, who returned from a fact- finding mission to Iraq, said he would recommend President Roh Moo- hyun send a military combat unit capable of independent operations to the war-torn nation.

"To reduce the risk for Korean soldiers, it is imperative for our country to send a regimental level combat team so that they can conduct independent operations while taking charge of a certain region," said Rep. Kang Chang-hee in an interview with The Korea Herald yesterday.

The 10-member parliamentary delegation, led by Rep. Kang of the opposition Grand National Party, visited the Gulf nation Nov. 18-26 to assess the feasibility of Korean troops to Iraq and Baghdad's response to Seoul's decision to send more troops.

Kang and his parliamentary delegation are scheduled to report the outcome of the on-the-spot survey to Roh when they visit Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday.

Kang's recommendation comes at a time when the government has yet to draft its unified decision on the nature, timing and location of the deployment, while South Koreans still differ over Washington's request for approximately 5,000 more troops, including combatants.

Upon the National Security Council's call, Prime Minister Goh Kun recently retracted his briefing that the government should abandon the option of a "functional" approach, such as sending medics and military engineers.