SEOUL, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The South Korean Defense Ministry announced Friday it will send a 12-member survey team to Iraq next Wednesday to check security situation in the post-war Middle East country.

　　The team, led by Kang Dae-woung, deputy director-general of the Defense Ministry's policy planning bureau, will stay in Iraq for 10 days to check the current situation in that country.

　　"The purpose of the survey team is to grasp local conditions, such as political situations and safety issues," the ministry saidin a statement.

　　The team will submit its findings to the presidential National Security Council for a decision on whether to accept the US request for sending combat troops to Iraq.

　　Currently, 675 South Korean army engineers and medics are stationed in Iraq to assist the US-led rehabilitation works.

　　Earlier this month, the United States asked South Korea to dispatch a "Polish-type division" to help keep order in Iraq. The Polish division consists of some 10,000 troops from 10 countries, including about 2,500-3,000 troops from Poland. Enditem