By Jun Ji-hye
The government would not necessarily object to U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) deploying its latest interception system as part of its missile defense program, a defense official told The Korea Times on Tuesday.
"If deployed, the primary purpose of the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense battery would be to defend its troops," said the official. "We think this is not the same thing as Seoul participating in the U.S. missile defense program."
The clarification represents a subtle change from an earlier stance taken by the Ministry of National Defense, when it said it never intended to cooperate with the United States on a defense shield that would ostensibly target North Korean ballistic missiles. China and Russia claim that they are also real targets of any such U.S. system on the Korean Peninsula.
"Interoperability between the KAMD (Korea Air and Missile Defense) and the U.S. missile defense system is necessary to better deal with North Korean threats," the official added.
The explanation came a day after reports that the United States put South Korea at the top of a list of countries where it can station missiles for the U.S. anti-missile defense shield.
Washington reportedly completed a site inspection early this year, as well as a review of the expected effects of deploying the THAAD.
Such reports fueled speculation that Seoul will eventually be incorporated into the U.S. missile defense system, which is facing resistance from China and Russia as well as North Korea.
The THAAD system, with a range of 150 kilometers, is regarded as an indispensable element of the U.S. missile defense system along with the SM-3, which can intercept missiles at an altitude of 400-500 kilometers.
The government has been clinging to the position that it will not join the Washington-led network. Referring to the THAAD deployment, however, it has implied that it has no objections, saying the deployment would help deter North Korean nuclear or conventional missile attacks and enhance security on the peninsula.
The official also tried to ease concerns that Seoul could eventually be burdened by the high cost of operating the THAAD battery, about 1 trillion won ($980 million).
"That kind of thing never happens," the official said.
The official said that the United States had not notified the government of its intentions regarding the deployment, adding that if Washington asked to discuss the issue, the government could accede to the discussion.
Ministry authorities acknowledged that the matter might be high on the agenda during an upcoming meeting between South Korea's presidential National Security Office chief Kim Kwan-jin and U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice.
Kim is planning to visit the United States over the Sept. 6-10 Chuseok holiday.
However, concerns still remain that deployment of the system in Korea could jeopardize Seoul-Beijing relations.
Reports had said that Chinese President Xi Jinping asked President Park Geun-hye to take a cautious attitude regarding the THAAD issue when the two held a summit in July.
"X-Band Radar, a part of the THAAD battery, is a fixed type, the main purpose of which is to detect ballistic missile attacks from North Korea," the ministry official said. "It is not related to China."
Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye
The government would not necessarily object to U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) deploying its latest interception system as part of its missile defense program, a defense official told The Korea Times on Tuesday.
"If deployed, the primary purpose of the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense battery would be to defend its troops," said the official. "We think this is not the same thing as Seoul participating in the U.S. missile defense program."
The clarification represents a subtle change from an earlier stance taken by the Ministry of National Defense, when it said it never intended to cooperate with the United States on a defense shield that would ostensibly target North Korean ballistic missiles. China and Russia claim that they are also real targets of any such U.S. system on the Korean Peninsula.
"Interoperability between the KAMD (Korea Air and Missile Defense) and the U.S. missile defense system is necessary to better deal with North Korean threats," the official added.
The explanation came a day after reports that the United States put South Korea at the top of a list of countries where it can station missiles for the U.S. anti-missile defense shield.
Washington reportedly completed a site inspection early this year, as well as a review of the expected effects of deploying the THAAD.
Such reports fueled speculation that Seoul will eventually be incorporated into the U.S. missile defense system, which is facing resistance from China and Russia as well as North Korea.
The THAAD system, with a range of 150 kilometers, is regarded as an indispensable element of the U.S. missile defense system along with the SM-3, which can intercept missiles at an altitude of 400-500 kilometers.
The government has been clinging to the position that it will not join the Washington-led network. Referring to the THAAD deployment, however, it has implied that it has no objections, saying the deployment would help deter North Korean nuclear or conventional missile attacks and enhance security on the peninsula.
The official also tried to ease concerns that Seoul could eventually be burdened by the high cost of operating the THAAD battery, about 1 trillion won ($980 million).
"That kind of thing never happens," the official said.
The official said that the United States had not notified the government of its intentions regarding the deployment, adding that if Washington asked to discuss the issue, the government could accede to the discussion.
Ministry authorities acknowledged that the matter might be high on the agenda during an upcoming meeting between South Korea's presidential National Security Office chief Kim Kwan-jin and U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice.
Kim is planning to visit the United States over the Sept. 6-10 Chuseok holiday.
However, concerns still remain that deployment of the system in Korea could jeopardize Seoul-Beijing relations.
Reports had said that Chinese President Xi Jinping asked President Park Geun-hye to take a cautious attitude regarding the THAAD issue when the two held a summit in July.
"X-Band Radar, a part of the THAAD battery, is a fixed type, the main purpose of which is to detect ballistic missile attacks from North Korea," the ministry official said. "It is not related to China."
Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye
