South Korean foreign minister reiterated on Monday there is no change in the principles of Seoul's troop dispatch plan despite of deteriorate security situation in Iraq.

Ban Ki-moon made this comments in a press conference held in Seoul Foreign Correspondent Club on Monday.

Last week, nine South Korean civilians were captured by Iraqi militia. Although they were released unharmed, local concerns still rose on the situation of Iraq.

Our government made the troop dispatch decision after taking into consideration of political and other factors. We must keep our promise to the international community, said Ban.

The minister also pointed out that Seoul has accepted the US request for more troops to Iraq to help with the Middle East country's rehabilitation.

South Korean troops in Iraq will not engage in amy offensive operations but concentrate on economic rehabilitation and humanitarian activities, Ban stressed.

Seoul late last year decided to send additional 3,000 troops toIraq by end of April. But recently, it changed the deployment location from Kirkuk to Kurdish autonomous region and delayed the timing of dispatch to June.

In the wake of the deteriorated security situation in Iraq, South Korea has persuaded its citizens not to travel to Iraq and advised South Korean civilians there to leave Iraq.