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SEOUL
(AFP) - North Korea has denounced the extension
of South Korea's troop deployment in Iraq as "a
pro-US traitorous act," putting its own territory in
danger of terrorism.
The North's ruling party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun,
said the South's parliament committed "a monstrous
crime" in passing a motion last week to allow 3,600
troops to stay in northern Iraq for until December
2005.
"This step ... is a pro-US traitorous act of
yielding to US pressure, in disregard of the
people's mindset," Rodong said.
"It is a monstrous crime impairing the dignity of
the nation and its life and soul to be involved in
the Iraqi war."
The South Korean contingent, the third largest among
the US-led allied forces stationed in Iraq, is based
in the Kurdish-controlled town of Arbil for relief
and rehabilitation.
The mission in Iraq was originally due to expire at
the end of 2004 before parliament approved a
government motion extending it by one year.
"The motion will expose south Korean land to
indiscriminate terrorism by anti-US armed forces,"
Rodong warned.
Seoul sent troops to Iraq at the request of the
United States. More than 30,000 US troops are
stationed in South Korea as a defense against North
Korea.
AFP
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