Welcoming a new U.N. resolution on Iraq, South Korea said Friday it would explore ways to assist international efforts for rebuilding the war-ravaged Middle East country.

Oh Joon, Foreign Ministry director-general for international organizations, expressed hope the resolution would contribute to the timely stabilization and economic rehabilitation of Iraq.

He added that, as a U.N. member, South Korea will also explore ways to participate in rehabilitation efforts.

The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Thursday morning to adopt the U.S.-backed resolution that urges U.N. member countries to contribute military forces and other assistance to help stabilize and rebuild the Middle Eastern nation.

South Korea has been asked by the United States to dispatch combat troops to help keep order in Iraq. In May, Seoul sent about 675 army engineers and medics to assist that country's reconstruction efforts.

The South Korean public has been sharply divided over whether to accept the request, with a slight majority opposed to a new deployment.

However, pro-deployment opinions are expected to gain ground after the passage of the new resolution, as opinion polls have showed that more than 70 percent of the public would favor a troop dispatch if it were carried out under a U.N. mandate.