The Defense Ministry is busy checking the situation in Iraq while taking steps to prevent similar incidents from happening again in the wake of Kim Sun-il's killing.

The ministry formed a task force Wednesday to handle the situation following Kim's death and is maintaining close cooperation with the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq.

The ministry has decided to actively support the government's joint response team to discuss ways of transporting Kim's body back home and of preventing additional terrorist attacks targeting South Korean nationals in the postwar Gulf nation.

The ministry has instructed the 660 troops of the Seohee and Jaema units in Nasiriyah to refrain from making non-essential activities outside of their bases and to further strengthen precautionary measures.