After his initial denial, Assistant Foreign Minister Lee Soo- hyuck acknowledged that South Korea received the US request from Richard Lawless, US deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asia and the Pacific, during his visit here last week to attend the South Korean-US military talks.

Hwang Young-soo, a spokesman for the Defense Ministry, also confirmed the US request.

In May, South Korea dispatched about 675 army engineers and medical personnel to assist the US-led rehabilitation of post-war Iraq, which aroused large protest surge among local people.
   
The two South Korean officials did not say how many South Korean troops the United States wants to be sent to Iraq.
   
Chang Young-dal, chairman of the National Assembly's Defense Committee, said South Korea's additional troops dispatch would not be possible unless the UN Security Council adopts a general resolution supporting troops dispatch to Iraq by all UN member countries.