SOUTH KOREA IS SENDING A CONTINGENT OF TWO THOUSAND TROOPS TO SOUTH VIETNAM TO HELP IN THE WAR AGAINST THE VIETCONG.THE DISPATCH OF THIS 'MILITARY ASSISTANCE UNIT' IS REPORTED TO FOLLOW AN APPEAL FOR HELP FROM THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT.

THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE GROUP PARADED BEFORE PRESIDENT CHUNG HEE PARK WHO DELIVERED A FAREWELL SPEECH.AFTER THE MILITARY RALLY, THE SOLDIERS MARCHED THROUGH THE CAPITAL'S MAIN STREET WHERE THEY WERE APPLAUDED BY LARGE CROWDS AND GIVEN FLOWERS AND COLOURED TAPES.

THESE TROOPS ARE SAID TO HAVE BEEN TRAINED BY AMERICAN SPECIAL FORCES INSTRUCTORS FROM SOUTH VIETNAM.THEY'VE LEARNED HOW TO MOVE THROUGH DENSE JUNGLES, HOW TO LOCATE BOOBY TRAPS AND AMBUSHES AND ABOUT THE MANY OTHER ASPECTS OF GUERILLA WARFARE.

THE SOUTH KOREA GOVERNMENT SAYS THAT APART FROM HELPING AN ALLY IN TROUBLE THE TROOPS HAVE BEEN SENT TO REPAY A DEBT OWED TO AMERICAN AND UNITED NATIONS FORCES WHO FOUGHT IN KOREA FIFTEEN YEARS AGO.

SOUTH KOREA ALREADY HAS AN ARMY SURGICAL UNIT IN SOUTH VIETNAM.