South Korean troops assumed military responsibility for northeast Iraq on Friday at a ceremony in the Kurdish capital Arbil, and the Korean commander pledged his forces would bring stability to the region. Soldiers from the Korean "Zaitoun" unit unfurled their division flag as a military band played at the ceremony held on a base on the outskirts of Arbil. Around 2,800 South Korean soldiers have been sent to Iraq's Kurdish zone, with 800 more expected to arrive in November on a mission focused on aid and reconstruction work. Formally accepting his new duties, Korean commander Major-General Hwang Eui-don said the presence of his troops would make the region even more stable. "We will make all efforts to become an exemplary unit of the coalition forces and bring stability to the region," he said. The ceremony was attended by U.S. and British military representatives, Kurdish regional government and security officials.
