S. Korea, US to discuss THAAD deployment

Chinese government expresses opposition

By Jun Ji-hye

South Korea and the United States agreed on Sunday to begin their official discussion regarding the deployment of the U.S. terminal high altitude area defense (THAAD) system on the Korean Peninsula.

The decision to bring Washington’s advanced missile defense system into the Korean Peninsula comes as part of allies' efforts to address North Korea’s defiant launch of long-range rocket earlier in the day, which followed its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6.

“Allies decided to officially begin the discussion on whether the United States Forces Korea (USFK) will deploy the THAAD system,” announced Ryu Je-seung, deputy minister for National Defense Policy of the Ministry of National Defense. “The alliance decision was made upon the recommendation from the Commander of the USFK and United Nations Command Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti.”

Ryu made the announcement at a joint news conference with Lt. Gen. Thomas S. Vandal, commander of the Eighth U.S. Army of the USFK, at 3 p.m. at the ministry headquarters in Seoul, hours after the North announced that its “Earth observation satellite entered its preset orbit” in 9 minutes and 46 seconds after the lift-off at 9:30 a.m.

“Allies assessed that the North’s recent provocative moves including the fourth nuclear test and the launch of the long-range missile have posed a serious threat of the North’s weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missiles to South Korea as well as the Asia-Pacific region,” Ryu said.

Vandal said, “It is time to move forward on the issue,” adding that the U.S. government fully supports the alliance decision.

Soon after the allies’ announcement, China expressed its opposition, raising the possibility that the deployment could also influence the country’s national security.

Military officials consider the North’s launch of a satellite as the de-facto test-firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), with a range of some 10,000 kilometers, given that the technologies for both are almost identical

As the first step toward the official discussion of the deployment, the two governments agreed to form a joint working-level group, which will conduct the review of candidate areas.

Once the two governments approve a measure suggested by this working-level group, the deployment would be finally decided, a ministry official explained on the condition of anonymity.

The official said some 1.5 trillion won ($1.2 billion) would be necessary in operating one THAAD unit, noting that, “If decided, South Korea would take charge of the site and other infrastructure, while the United States would bear the cost of the deployment and operation.”

He added South Korea has no plan to purchase a THAAD unit, removing speculation that the USFK would deploy one unit, and Seoul would buy one. Such speculation was raised as at least two units are known to be necessary to cover the entire peninsula.

Washington has been hoping to deploy its advance missile defense system here to cope with the nuclear and missile threats, and to protect its troops stationed here and their families.

But Seoul had until recently been reluctant about expressing opinions on THAAD, only sticking to the “three Nos”: no request from the U.S., no negotiations with the U.S. and no decision made about it.

This was mainly because China, Seoul’s No. 1 trading partner, has been strongly opposed to having THAAD on Korean soil, out of concerns that the THAAD's AN/TPY-2 radar system could snoop on Beijing’s military activities and missile capabilities.

“China’s position about the missile defense is consistent and clear,” said Hua Chunying, spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, after the allies’ announcement of the plan for the official discussion of the THAAD deployment. “When a country seeks its own national security, it should not damage other countries’ national security and interest.”

Regarding China’s opposition, Seoul's defense ministry official said, “The USFK’s deployment of the THAAD system will hardly influence Beijing’s national security,” noting that the purpose of the deployment is to better deter the North’s threats, not to defend the U.S. mainland.

“So, the AN/TPY-2 radar will be deployed only in terminal mode, (not in the forward-based mode),” he said.

The AN/TPY-2 radar can be deployed in two different modes.

The radar in terminal mode, with a range of some 600 kilometers, is tasked with detecting, acquiring, tracking and discriminating ballistic missiles in the terminal phase of flight. The radar in forward-based mode, with a range of up to 2,000 kilometers, acquires ballistic missiles in the boost phase of flight, shortly after they are launched, according to radar manufacturer Raytheon.

The range of the radar in terminal mode can hardly reach China, the official noted.