By Yi Whan-woo
South Korea and the United States will begin working-level talks this week regarding possible deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system on the Korean Peninsula, according to military officials, Sunday.
The Joint Working Group (JWG) of the two allies will sort out details regarding the deployment of a THAAD battery in Korea including details such as: schedule and place, operational costs and concerns about possible environmental risks.
It is speculated that Chang Kyung-soo, the Ministry of Defense's director general for policy planning will lead the Seoul delegation while the U.S side will be headed by Maj. Gen. Robert Hedelund, the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) assistant chief of staff for policy and planning.
"It's likely that the two sides will focus on setting up only one THAAD battery," a Ministry of Defense official said on condition of anonymity. "And the goal will be making sure that deployment will be made as early as possible."
The possible JWG talks will come after the defense ministry confirmed last week that Seoul and Washington have been discussing deployment of THAAD since Feb. 7 when North Korea test-fired a suspected ballistic missile.
Both Seoul and Washington will take an agreement made at the JWG into account before allowing the U.S. Army to deploy a THAAD battery.
Yang Uk, a senior research fellow at the Korea Defense and Security Forum said, "The JWG will have a series of things to consider beside military-related issues."
China has vowed to retaliate against possible THAAD deployment, claiming it can be used to spy on its military activities instead of deterring North Korea's military attacks.
Local government officials, lawmakers and environmental activists from the neighborhoods cited as possible THAAD sites also have protested. They pointed out health and safety risks associated with strong electromagnetic radiation emitted from THAAD's AN/TPY-2 radar.
Citing the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), the military authorities said that South Korea is likely to provide land and related infrastructure such as electricity, water and sewage treatment. Some possible candidate sites include Daegu, Pyeongtaek in Gyeonggi Province, Wonju in Gangwon Province and Gunsan in North Jeolla Province.
Among them, a U.S. Army base is stationed in Dageu, while Pyeongtaek will host the new headquarters of the USFK.
The authorities said the U.S. side is anticipated to cover expenses on deployment and operations in return.
It is estimated that the cost for setting up a THAAD battery is 1 trillion won. A battery includes six missile launchers and a set of 48 missiles.
South Korea and the United States will begin working-level talks this week regarding possible deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system on the Korean Peninsula, according to military officials, Sunday.
The Joint Working Group (JWG) of the two allies will sort out details regarding the deployment of a THAAD battery in Korea including details such as: schedule and place, operational costs and concerns about possible environmental risks.
It is speculated that Chang Kyung-soo, the Ministry of Defense's director general for policy planning will lead the Seoul delegation while the U.S side will be headed by Maj. Gen. Robert Hedelund, the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) assistant chief of staff for policy and planning.
"It's likely that the two sides will focus on setting up only one THAAD battery," a Ministry of Defense official said on condition of anonymity. "And the goal will be making sure that deployment will be made as early as possible."
The possible JWG talks will come after the defense ministry confirmed last week that Seoul and Washington have been discussing deployment of THAAD since Feb. 7 when North Korea test-fired a suspected ballistic missile.
Both Seoul and Washington will take an agreement made at the JWG into account before allowing the U.S. Army to deploy a THAAD battery.
Yang Uk, a senior research fellow at the Korea Defense and Security Forum said, "The JWG will have a series of things to consider beside military-related issues."
China has vowed to retaliate against possible THAAD deployment, claiming it can be used to spy on its military activities instead of deterring North Korea's military attacks.
Local government officials, lawmakers and environmental activists from the neighborhoods cited as possible THAAD sites also have protested. They pointed out health and safety risks associated with strong electromagnetic radiation emitted from THAAD's AN/TPY-2 radar.
Citing the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), the military authorities said that South Korea is likely to provide land and related infrastructure such as electricity, water and sewage treatment. Some possible candidate sites include Daegu, Pyeongtaek in Gyeonggi Province, Wonju in Gangwon Province and Gunsan in North Jeolla Province.
Among them, a U.S. Army base is stationed in Dageu, while Pyeongtaek will host the new headquarters of the USFK.
The authorities said the U.S. side is anticipated to cover expenses on deployment and operations in return.
It is estimated that the cost for setting up a THAAD battery is 1 trillion won. A battery includes six missile launchers and a set of 48 missiles.
