Korea's Army chief of staff will visit two Korean military contingents in the Middle East from July 21-26 to boost troop morale and meet local military officials to strengthen bilateral ties, the military said Thursday.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Jang Jun-gyu will make a six-day trip to the Dongmyung Unit in Lebanon and the Akh Unit in the United Arab Emirates. There he will not only give pep talks to the troops but also work to expand bilateral cooperation between South Korea and the two countries, the Army said in a statement.

During his trip to Lebanon from July 21-24, the four-star general will meet his counterpart to discuss ways to promote bilateral military ties. He will then visit the United National Interim Force in Lebanon to explain the Dongmyung Unit's peacekeeping activities and achievements, a spokesman said.