The first contingent of fifteen hundred US Marines will arrive in Afghanistan this month, in the first wave of a troop surge approved by President Barack Obama. This has been stated by the US military spokesman in Washington. Meanwhile, a top US defence official has said that the United States hopes additional troops promised by NATO allies will also arrive in Afghanistan by the first half of next year.<br/><br/>South Korea has decided to send 350 troops to Afghanistan to help rebuild the war-torn country. The Defence Ministry said in a statement that the South Korean contingent will be based in Parwan province north of Kabul for 30 months from July 1 next year. Officials said the South Korean troops will not do any fighting except to protect the aid team. The team of 100 civilians and 40 police personnel will be guarded by 350 troops backed by helicopters, armoured vehicles and an unmanned reconnaissance drone, it said. The deployment was approved by the South Korean cabinet at its meeting on Tuesday<br/>