MDP security chief Jo Nam-pung is claiming that rather than Korea saying no to deploying their forces in Kirkuk, it was the other way around — the Americans felt the Koreans weren’t up to the task of providing security in the region, and asked them to deploy their forces in another area. During a press conference, Jo said, “The Americans needed a whole division to maintain security at Kirkuk Airport and seven major roads… But since our combined 3,700 man force of combat and non-combat troops didn’t have the capability to take charge of the area, the Americans switched us to another region of deployment.” He also called the change an “international disgrace in which the capabilities of the Korean military were disregarded.”
Jo, who served as the commander of the ROK 1st Army, did not release proof to back up his claims.
One Comment
maybe our military leaders were trying to help them save face instead of calling them chickenshit.