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Peace Keeping Operation

• UN Peace Keeping Operation
• Korea’s UN Peace Keeping Operation

Korea’s UN Peace Keeping Operation

Korea became a member of the UN and dispatched medical teams to Gulf War in 1991. From then, it dispatched an engineering battalion for construction to Somalia in 1993 and has participated in peace keeping operation. Furthermore, Korea has successfully performed not only regional reconstruction, medical aids for Angola and East-Timor, but also public security maintenance and peace settlement etc.

The UN appraised Korea as an exemplary nation out of involving nations in PKO mission. In 2001, the general Hwang was appointed to the commander of the UN peace keeping force with the request of designating Korean soldiers to the commander of Cyprus peace keeping force.

In addition, it has annually dispatched 26,000 personnel to 19 nations as of April in 2010. For instance, the Zaytun Unit to Iraq, the Dongui and Dasan Unit to Lebanon, Dan-bi Unit to Haiti is some of them. By doing so, Korea has actively participated in PKO mission.

However, our PKO mission doesn’t live up to our national and economic power in terms of scale and budget.

In this regard, the government is pushing forward PKO and legislating PKO participation law under the name of contribution diplomacy and is carrying out various activities to promote national status and generate national interest as a responsible member of international communities.

The zaytun unit for civil operation model

Korea has dispatched 19,000 personnel to Iraq from August in 2004 to December in 2008 since Zema Unit and Seohee Unit was dispatched to Iraq in April, 2003.

The zaytun unit greatly contributed to maintaining public security in Arbil, the northern part of Iraq, reconstructing the region, deterring conflicts and stabilizing the region. Moreover, it has won popular sentiment and resumed civil operation. Consequently, multi-national armies praised that it suggested civil operation model.

The exemplary role of the Zaytun laid the foundation for building trust between Korea and Iraq. It enabled Korean companies to promote spending conditions in Iraq and helped to raise national interest.

Ju-Young and Dong-Myung Unit to stabilize Lebanon

With the request of the UN Security Council, 1,800 personnel of Dong-myung unit has been sent to the southern part of Lebanon from July in 2007 to as of now. They have carried out peace keeping operation and civil operation such as patrolling in the region, obtaining intelligence and reporting them, school construction, medical support and medical supplies etc. As of 2010, about 350 personnel of the unit are resuming peace keeping operation as a member of UNIFIL.

Dong-myung unit has perfectly performed patrolling tasks in the face of wars and terror caused by political and religious conflicts. As a result, no terror occurred in the past three years. In addition, they has contributed to building trust between the troops and local residents by carrying out civil operating focused on humanitarian aid, infrastructure, friendship and self-reliance.

The Unit stabilized Lebanon through its perfect performance and devoted civil operations. In the mean time, they have introduced the excellence of Korean culture to local residents

Local residents said that they are so happy to meet the unit and praised them as a gift from the god. Moreover, they have carried out leading and exemplary activities among 29 nations and enhanced national prestige.

Dan-bi unit to give a hope in hopeless land

The resolution of UN Security Council (1980 article) was adopted to reconstruct Haiti hit by the worst earthquake in January, 2010. Consequently, our government was asked to dispatch troops to increase military and police personnel for MINUSTAH. As a result, the government has sent around 240 personnel of Dan-bi Unit for fast recovery in Haiti in February, 2010.

Dan-bi Unit consists of medical aid teams, guardian teams with an engineering battalion to reconstruct damaged areas. They have carried out support activities such as eliminating debris, road construction, limited civil operation and medical treatments. By doing so, they are providing depressed and despaired Haitians with hope and dream. Particularly, the unit has self-reliance function such as military quarters and the provision of meals. With difficulties, they have perfectly performed tasks to enhance national prestige and status and have been praised by Haitians.

Korean waves blows again in Afghan

On 25th, February in 2010, we determined to dispatch Afghan PRT defense unit to live up to demands from international communities after withdrawing Dong-ui and Da-san Units in December, 2007.

In July, 2010, Afghan reconstruction team will be sent and protect PRT agents (civilians and policies) who are in charge of reconstructions and recoveries. The team plan to perform guardian and defense tasks to enable PRT agents to carry out their duties safely, having around 320 personnel and mine protection vehicles and helicopters.

The Afghan Reconstruction team contributed to stabilizing Afghan and reaffirmed the Korea-US alliance. In addition, it would lay the foundation for Korean companies through international cooperation

PKO Standing Troops to promote national interests

The Defense Ministry organized oversea dispatch of standing troops with 3000 personnel to live up to our national prestige and dispatch demands form the UN and is pushing forward national PKO center.

The National Assembly passed ‘The UN PKO Participation Law’ on 29th, December in 2009 to let ROKA actively and rapidly participate in PKO.

In this regard, ROK is organizing standing troops, developing training and operation system, securing superior resources and preparing for management solutions. Moreover, it is trying to establish overseas dispatch of standing troops capable of meeting various demands from international communities.