SEOUL, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- A South Korean worker in Iraq died Tuesday after a container exploded in at the camp of South Korean troops, Seoul's Defense Ministry said.
Jung Myeong-nam, 52, was painting when the explosion hit him at the camp in the Kurdish area of Irbil in northern Iraq, defense officials said.
He died from severe head injuries. Jung was a civilian engineer employed by the South Korean troops.
The ministry officials said the explosion was an accident and had nothing to do with insurgents.
South Korea stationed about 2,800 troops in Irbil in September to help rebuild the Kurdish-controlled northern Iraqi province at Washington's request. It is scheduled to dispatch an additional 800 troops.
The South Korean contingent in Irbil has been on heightened alert after a slew of terrorist threats targeting them and during the massive U.S. attack on Fallujah.
