Koreans take over in Northern Iraq

Korean troops in a handover ceremony in Irbil, Iraq. (Reuters/Sasa Kralj photo)

South Korea has taken command in the area of Iraq around Irbil from the US Styker Brigade, according to the KTimes:

The Zaytun Unit, South Korean troops stationed in the northern Iraqi town of Irbil, took over operational command in the Kurdish-controlled region from the U.S.-led coalition forces on Friday, local time, a Defense Ministry official said.

I think the writer meant to say "as part of" rather than "from" since Korean troops are there as part of the coalition.

The article points out that the Koreans are not taking over security in their area, which makes sense since they are in friendly country. Local Kurdish forces will handle security while the Koreans work on construction. If Korean construction techniques back in the homeland are any guide, I fully expect all of North-Eastern Iraq to be lovingly covered in concrete by this time next year.

Korea is also on Al-Qaida's list of targets (hat tip to the Marmot):

''We should not wait until U.S., British, French, Jewish, South Korean, Australian or Polish forces enter Egypt, the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen and Algeria before we resist,'' said the tape. The tape called for indiscriminate attacks against the U.S. and its allies, saying “Let us start resisting now. The interests of America, Britain, Australia, France, Poland, Norway, South Korea and Japan are spread everywhere.”

Does anyone else out there see the dark humor in France making the list?

Baboya! Didn't I tell you not to drink those four bottles of soju before the ceremony. (Reuters/Sasa Kralj photo)