The South Korean Army has launched a separate military contingent, which will be deployed in the northern Afghan province of Parwan in July.

The 320-member army contingent, named Ashena, for the protection of civilians will be dispatched to Afghanistan along with South Korea’s provincial reconstruction team (PRT), according to Yonhapnews.

During the deployment, the PRT will help the special military contingent strengthen the administrative capabilities of Parwan province, and provide vocational and police training in an effort to build self-defence capabilities for the Afghan forces.

The South Korean Army said that members of Ashena would now undergo training to prepare for various contingencies.