Park strongly defends THAAD deployment decision
President Park Geun-hye on Monday mounted a strong defense of the recent decision by South Korea and the U.S. to station an advanced antimissile system here, stressing it won't undermine the security interests of any third-party countries.
Park also underscored that the decision to station a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea is a "purely defense measure" to cope with growing nuclear and missile threats from a provocative North Korea.
After some five months of consultations, Seoul and Washington announced Friday that they had agreed to deploy a THAAD battery in South Korea. The announcement riled Beijing and Moscow, which have argued THAAD would hurt their security interests.
"As (South Korea) has repeatedly said, THAAD will not target any country other than North Korea, and will not encroach upon the security interests of any third country. (We) have no reason to do so," the commander in chief said during a meeting with her senior secretaries.
"The international community should understand that Seoul does not have any intention of targeting other countries or threatening other countries," she added.
Pointing to Pyongyang's relentless provocations, including its weekend test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile, Park highlighted that the communist regime has been posing "explicit" threats to the South.
"Growing nuclear and missile threats are a very critical issue where the future of the Republic of Korea and the lives of our people are at stake," she said. "As president, I have the obligation to protect our people and nation."
The allies plan to determine where to place the THAAD battery in South Korea as early as later this month. They have faced strong opposition from local residents that are concerned about the electromagnetic waves emanating from the THAAD radar.
"(South Korea) will select the optimal site for the THAAD deployment that can certainly ensure the military efficiency, and protect the safety and health (of the residents) from all problems, including the influence of electromagnetic waves," the president said.
Following the allies' announcement to deploy THAAD here, Beijing expressed "strong discontent and firm opposition" against the allies' plan to deploy THAAD here. Moscow voiced "very serious concern" over the plan.
Experts said that Beijing is concerned that a radar system, attached to a THAAD battery, could be used to monitor China's military activities. China also fears that THAAD could undermine its nuclear deterrence against the U.S. and its capabilities to project power farther into the Pacific, the experts said.
THAAD, a core part of America's multilayered missile defense program, is designed to intercept incoming ballistic missiles at altitudes of 40 to 150 kilometers during the terminal phase of flight after detecting the missiles with a land-based radar system.
During the meeting with her senior aides, Park also instructed them to forge ahead with the project to relocate an airport in Daegu. Residents in the region have called for the relocation of the airport due to aircraft noise and other issues.
"The relocation of the airport is expected to enhance combat capabilities, ensure the efficient use of land and bring about economic development in the entirety of the Daegu metropolis," the president said.
The president also decided to accept the ruling Saenuri Party's proposal to grant special pardons to those serving prison terms on Liberation Day that falls on Aug. 15. During a luncheon meeting with Park on Friday, Saenuri floor leader Rep. Chung Jin-suk made the proposal.
"Now, we face economic difficulties from both at home and abroad, which are weighing heavily on the people," the president said. "We've come to a time where we need a turning point for the nation."
Park offered special pardons in January 2014 and August last year. (Yonhap)