Sending Korean troops to Iraq helps economy-finmin

SEOUL, Sept 29 (Reuters) - The deployment of additional South Korean troops to Iraq will benefit South Korea's economy because it reassures investors about a solid alliance between Washington and Seoul, Finance Minister Kim Jin-pyo said on Monday.

"Making a quick decision on the troops' dispatch to Iraq will help the economy itself. I have conveyed this view to the President (Roh Moo-hyun) in relevant conferences," he told lawmakers during a parliamentary audit session.

A spokesman for the Finance Ministry added it was the minister's personal view that solid U.S.-South Korean ties would ease investor worries about possible discord between the two on how to deal with North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

Kim's remarks came after a lawmaker asked for his views about the impact on the economy of a delayed decision in sending more troops to Iraq.

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