Seoul: A New Zealand Army platoon has arrived in South Korea this week for deployment at the U.N. Command (UNC), officials said Friday, in the latest display of international commitment to maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. The deployment of the 35 soldiers marks the first time New Zealand has sent a combat-ready Army infantry platoon to the U.S.-led multinational force's headquarters to train with both South Korean and U.S. troops, according to the UNC.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the deployed soldiers will be assigned to the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division and train at a range of facilities across the Korean Peninsula over the next 90 days, including the South Korean Army's Korea Combat Training Center. Another platoon is set to arrive in South Korea next year for training with the South Korean Marine Corps.
The UNC welcomed the deployment as reflecting New Zealand's commitment to the UNC and the Korean Peninsula. "The platoon's presence here reflects New Zealand's steadfast commitment to UNC, and to the enduring peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula. For over seven decades, New Zealand has stood firm in support of the shared values we defend together," UNC Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Derek Macaulay said.
Brig. Jason Dyhrberg, Land Component Commander of the New Zealand Defence Force, anticipated the training will enhance troop combat readiness and coalition integration. "This is a great opportunity to gain valuable experience, work alongside Republic of Korea and United States personnel, and access world-class combat training facilities used by South Korea's best," Dyhrberg said.
The deployment comes about a year after New Zealand's defense and foreign ministers announced a plan to deploy up to 41 additional personnel to South Korea, increasing the country's contribution to the UNC and its Military Armistice Commission from 12 to up to 53. They noted the decision reflects New Zealand's emphasis on collective security efforts for peace and stability as well as the international rules-based system in the Indo-Pacific region and on the Korean Peninsula.
The UNC was established under a 1950 U.N. mandate to support South Korea against North Korean aggression during the 1950-53 Korean War, which technically has never ended as a peace treaty was not signed. A total of 22 countries, including the United States, Britain, and Australia, sent troops or medical support to the South during and right after the war. New Zealand deployed both naval and ground forces during the three-year conflict, with more than 6,000 New Zealanders serving in the Korean War. The country has contributed to the UNC and its Military Armistice Commission since 1998.