The Defense Ministry has requested 58 billion won in additional spending for planned deployment of troops to Iraq.

The ministry earlier asked the Ministry of Budget and Planning for two hundred-30 billion won in additional budget to arm and supply the South Korean contingent to be sent to the war-torn country.

A ministry spokesman said the money is required to buy more military equipment for the soldiers.

A contingent of three thousand soldiers, including one thousand-400 combatants, will be dispatched to the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk in late April to help with security and reconstruction.

The South Korean troops will be the third largest foreign military presence in Iraq after the United States and Britain.