Asia-Pacific

S Korea to probe into former US military bases

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-05-30 16:37

SEOUL - South Korea's defense ministry formed Monday a task force for an environmental probe into former US military bases in the country, as fresh allegations of environmental damage created by US forces emerge, local media reported.

Related readings:  S Korea to probe alleged burial of Agent Orange

The task force, comprising officials from the defense ministry, the Army, Navy and Air Force, will look into 85 former US military installations handed back to South Korea between 1990 and 2003, according to Yonhap News Agency.

The move comes as South Korea and the United States are conducting a joint investigation into an allegation that the US forces secretly dumped over 30 years ago the toxic defoliant Agent Orange at one of their bases in Chilgok, some 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul.

The allegation rattled the country with more than 33,000 Vietnam War veterans who has suffered numerous after-effects from exposure to dioxin and led to other new claims of similar charges, prodding the government into action.

Some 28,500 American troops are currently stationed here, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War.