Conflict between Seoul, Beijing escalating
By Jun Ji-hye
South Korea and the United States started talks regarding possible deployment of a terminal high altitude area defense (THAAD) battery on the Korean Peninsula, Feb. 7, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Thursday.
However, the ministry said that discussions on how to operate the allies' Joint Working Group (JWG), which will iron out details regarding deployment, are still ongoing, contradicting an earlier comment from the U.S. Department of Defense that claimed the JWG had already met.
The MND said early this week that the first meeting of the JWG is expected to take place this week or next.
It also reaffirmed that making a decision on whether to host a THAAD battery is South Korea's sovereign right, referring to objections regarding the issue voiced by China.
"The official discussions between high-level officials began on Feb. 7 when Seoul and Washington announced so," ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun told a regular briefing.
"What is ongoing is a consultation to form the JWG and set its terms of reference. Once the consultation is completed, the two countries will embark on the JWG meetings at the earliest possible date."
Moon said that the terms of reference would include the agenda of the JWG meetings and methods of operation.
Once launched, the JWG will conduct a review of candidate areas and sort out other details, and once the two governments approve the measures suggested by the JWG, the deployment of the THAAD battery would then be decided on, Moon said.
His comments came hours after the U.S. Department of Defense said it could "confirm that the JWG has met and that consultations are ongoing."
The Pentagon later acknowledged a miscommunication with the U.S. Forces Korea and retracted its statement.
"The JWG has not met and we are sorting out details prior to consultations. The ROK-U.S. alliance is working expeditiously, but meticulously working through those details, so no timeline has been established," it said later the same day.
However, the conflict between South Korea and China is deepening over the deployment.
On Wednesday, China called for Seoul and Washington to withdraw the plan.
"With regard to the deployment of the THAAD missile defense system on the Korean Peninsula, we have expressed our firm opposition because it damages China's national security interests," China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular press briefing. "We hope that the relevant parties can withdraw the plan."
China's opposition to the THAAD battery has long been known, but this was the first time that Beijing urged South Korea and the U.S. to halt planning.
The Chinese media is also voicing strong opposition to the THAAD system.
"Beijing should voice its objection to Seoul's deployment of THAAD. If South Korea insists on doing so, China can take reference from Russia in responding to Eastern European countries' deployment of U.S. anti-missile systems," the state-run Global Times newspaper said in an editorial.
Seoul and Washington announced their decision to discuss whether to deploy the advanced missile defense system on the peninsula soon after North Korea claimed it successfully launched a long-range rocket that put a satellite into orbit. The launch came weeks after it conducted its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6.
The North's launch of satellites is widely regarded as a cover for testing intercontinental ballistic missile technology, aimed at striking the U.S. mainland.
The allies' decision to embark on THAAD discussions comes amid growing nuclear and missile threats from the Kim Jong-un regime.
The THAAD battery is capable of intercepting short-, medium- and intermediate-range North Korean ballistic missiles at altitudes of 40 to 150 kilometers during the final phase of their flight.
Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye
By Jun Ji-hye
South Korea and the United States started talks regarding possible deployment of a terminal high altitude area defense (THAAD) battery on the Korean Peninsula, Feb. 7, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Thursday.
However, the ministry said that discussions on how to operate the allies' Joint Working Group (JWG), which will iron out details regarding deployment, are still ongoing, contradicting an earlier comment from the U.S. Department of Defense that claimed the JWG had already met.
The MND said early this week that the first meeting of the JWG is expected to take place this week or next.
It also reaffirmed that making a decision on whether to host a THAAD battery is South Korea's sovereign right, referring to objections regarding the issue voiced by China.
"The official discussions between high-level officials began on Feb. 7 when Seoul and Washington announced so," ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun told a regular briefing.
"What is ongoing is a consultation to form the JWG and set its terms of reference. Once the consultation is completed, the two countries will embark on the JWG meetings at the earliest possible date."
Moon said that the terms of reference would include the agenda of the JWG meetings and methods of operation.
Once launched, the JWG will conduct a review of candidate areas and sort out other details, and once the two governments approve the measures suggested by the JWG, the deployment of the THAAD battery would then be decided on, Moon said.
His comments came hours after the U.S. Department of Defense said it could "confirm that the JWG has met and that consultations are ongoing."
The Pentagon later acknowledged a miscommunication with the U.S. Forces Korea and retracted its statement.
"The JWG has not met and we are sorting out details prior to consultations. The ROK-U.S. alliance is working expeditiously, but meticulously working through those details, so no timeline has been established," it said later the same day.
However, the conflict between South Korea and China is deepening over the deployment.
On Wednesday, China called for Seoul and Washington to withdraw the plan.
"With regard to the deployment of the THAAD missile defense system on the Korean Peninsula, we have expressed our firm opposition because it damages China's national security interests," China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular press briefing. "We hope that the relevant parties can withdraw the plan."
China's opposition to the THAAD battery has long been known, but this was the first time that Beijing urged South Korea and the U.S. to halt planning.
The Chinese media is also voicing strong opposition to the THAAD system.
"Beijing should voice its objection to Seoul's deployment of THAAD. If South Korea insists on doing so, China can take reference from Russia in responding to Eastern European countries' deployment of U.S. anti-missile systems," the state-run Global Times newspaper said in an editorial.
Seoul and Washington announced their decision to discuss whether to deploy the advanced missile defense system on the peninsula soon after North Korea claimed it successfully launched a long-range rocket that put a satellite into orbit. The launch came weeks after it conducted its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6.
The North's launch of satellites is widely regarded as a cover for testing intercontinental ballistic missile technology, aimed at striking the U.S. mainland.
The allies' decision to embark on THAAD discussions comes amid growing nuclear and missile threats from the Kim Jong-un regime.
The THAAD battery is capable of intercepting short-, medium- and intermediate-range North Korean ballistic missiles at altitudes of 40 to 150 kilometers during the final phase of their flight.
Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye
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