Missile interceptor emerges as hot issue

THAAD

By Kang Seung-woo

• Published Feb 17, 2015 4:24 PM KST
• Updated Feb 17, 2015 4:24 PM KST

Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) has emerged recently as one of the hottest issues on the Korean Peninsula.

With North Korea modernizing its missiles, the United States wants to strengthen its missile defense by bringing the advanced missile interceptor into South Korea.

However, China, seeing the move as a threat to its security, strongly opposes the plan and is pressing Seoul to reject the scheme on the back of its status as the South's No. 1 trading partner.

This has forced the Park Geun-hye government to walk a tightrope between its military alliance with Washington and its economic partnership with Beijing.