The Ministry of Defense said Wednesday that it plans to send a delegation to Iraq on Jan. 11 for discussions with the United States on the issue of military supplies for South Korean troops to be posted in the country.

The 10-member team will visit the Iraqi cities of Kirkuk and Baghdad, as well as Kuwait, to discuss cooperation with the U.S.

South Korea last month finalized a plan to send 3,000 troops to the northern Iraqi region of Kirkuk in late April to help reconstruction efforts in the war-torn country.

The planned dispatch will include 1,500 combat-ready troops, comprised of marines, special commando forces and regular army units, to guard against possible attacks by insurgents. The remainder of the dispatch will be non-combatant personnel such as engineers and medics.

The fresh contingent will supplement around 460 army engineers and medics who have been operating in southern Iraq since last summer.