VISITING KOREAN TROOPS IN SOUTH VIETNAM THE SOUTH KOREA DEFENCE MINISTER HAS MADE A DIRECT OFFER OF REINFORCEMENTS TO THE SAIGON GOVERNMENT. THE 2,000 KOREANS AT PRESENT IN SOUTH VIETNAM ARE NON-COMBATANTS - COMPRISING HOSPITAL UNITS, BRIDGE AND ROAD-BUILDING CORPS AND SO ON. BUT THE LATEST OFFER EMBRACES SOME OF THE MOST HIGHLY-TRAINED FIGHTING TROOPS IN ASIA.

MR. KIM SUNG EUM, THE DEFENCE MINISTER, WENT YESTERDAY (THURSDAY) TO SEE WORK CARRIED OUT BY HIS COMPATRIOTS IN BIEN HOA PROVINCE. A WARM WELCOME AWAITED HIM AS HE MOVED FROM UNIT TO UNIT DISTRIBUTING GIFTS FROM HOME TO THE KOREAN SOLDIERS. HE SAW PART OF A ROAD PROGRAMME NOW IN HAND BY THE KOREANS AND LATER TOURED THEIR ENCAMPMENT.

THE PHILIPPINES HAVE ALREADY MADE A SIMILAR OFFER OF COMBATANT TROOPS BUT ARE AWAITING REPLY; THAILAND IS ALSO BELIEVED TO BE PREPARED TO SUPPLY BOTH TROOPS AND AIRCRAFT.