S. Korea, Malaysia to study trade agreement

SEOUL, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- Officials in South Korea and Malaysia agreed Monday at Chong Wa Dae to jointly study a free trade agreement between the two nations.

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi also discussed ways of strengthening bilateral relations in the international community, the Korea Times reported.

With 3,600 troops in Iraq, South Korea is the third largest coalition partner in Iraq, and Roh explained South Korea's decision to send additional troops to Iraq is a bid to help rehabilitate the war-devastated country.

"The Malaysian premier expressed full understanding of Korea's decision to dispatch troops," said a South Korean official.