An advance unit of Zaitun Unit is heading to Iraq next month.

The Defense Ministry said the advance team, which includes medics and engineers, will be sent to the southern city of Nasiriyah in the middle of next month.

The medics and engineers will replace South Korean troops whose six month tour of duty expires next month. The rest of the advance team will make preparations for the arrival of the main unit the date of which has not yet been decided on.

In May last year, South Korea sent some 600 army engineers and medics as part of efforts to assist in the U.S.-led operations in the war-torn country.

South Korea had originally planned to send the 3000-strong Zaitun Unit in April to the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk. But the plan was shelved after South Korea refused a U.S. demand to join offensive operations in the northern hotspot.

The two countries are currently negotiating a new deployment location.