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By Kim Rahn
Seoul and Washington are quickening the deployment of a U.S. anti-missile battery here, triggering controversy over the apparent rush amid escalating retaliatory steps by China.
The allies announced Tuesday that parts of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery, including two missile launchers, arrived in Korea Monday night.
However, the arrival comes at a highly sensitive time as political turmoil is now escalating ahead of the Constitutional Court's ruling on President Park Geun-hye's impeachment and China's intensifying retaliatory measures against the THAAD system.
Although the government says no political intention was involved regarding the timing of the deployment, some critics say the two countries hastened the move to take advantage of the political and social confusion.
The ministry said the earlier-than-expected arrival of the THAAD elements was in line with its consistent pledge to bring the defense system here as soon as possible, and has nothing to do with the country's political situation.
"It is only to defend South Korea from the North's nuclear threats," a ministry official said. "We can't delay the defense measure anymore because North Korea's nuclear technology has been upgraded."
However, the deployment process began even though the necessary administrative steps have yet to be completed, including securing the land for the battery site under the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), evaluation of its environmental impact, and basic planning and construction of the base.
Considering these steps, it had been expected that the deployment would be made around June or July. But with the unexpected sudden acquisition of the installation, the battery may be put into operation by April, according to sources.
It is widely believed that the government rushed the process to make the deployment irreversible even if President Park is ousted and a candidate against the battery is elected.
Some of the potential presidential candidates, especially the liberals who have better chances of winning the presidential election, have been opposed to the missile defense system and said they would reconsider it if they become the president. The independent counsel concluded Park was involved in bribery and other corruption, and the court will soon make a decision on whether to endorse her impeachment.
Also China has recently intensified retaliatory measures to show its discontent with the THAAD deployment, suspending Korean companies' operations there and banning its people from visiting Korea. It is feared the hasty deployment may cause more unfavorable sentiment toward Korea among Chinese people.
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) criticized the deployment. "Why is the government rushing THAAD? We think it has a political purpose ahead of the impeachment ruling," DPK spokesman Youn Kwan-suk said.
Youn denounced acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn for a lack of communication with the people. "President Park, who approved the THAAD deployment, has been suspended. And Hwang is abusing his power, ignoring the National Assembly's opinion."
The minor opposition People's Party also said in a statement, "Although North Korea continues provocations, it is questionable why we should deploy the THAAD so hastily at this moment."
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