Army chief to visit S. Korean solders in UAE, Lebanon

SEOUL, July 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Army chief of staff will visit two Korean military contingents in the Middle East from July 21-26 to boost troop morale and meet local military officials to strengthen bilateral ties, the military said Thursday.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Jang Jun-gyu will make a six-day trip to the Dongmyung Unit in Lebanon and the Akh Unit in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). There he will not only give pep talks to the troops but also work to expand bilateral cooperation between South Korea and the two countries, the Army said in a statement.

During his trip to Lebanon from July 21-24, the four-star general will meet his counterpart to discuss ways to promote bilateral military ties. He will then visit the United National Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to explain the Dongmyung Unit's peacekeeping activities and achievements, a spokesman said.

On July 24, the chief of staff will travel to the UAE to meet high-ranking military officials and discuss ways to expand the already solid military partnership, he said.

The Dongmyung (East Light) Unit made up of some 800 troops has been engaged in peacekeeping operations in Lebanon since July 2007. The 130-strong Akh (Brothers) Unit has been dispatched to the UAE to help train the country's special forces and protect South Korean residents there since January 2011.

kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
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