Opposition party grills government over THAAD issue
By Kim Hyo-jin
The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) questioned the government, Tuesday, about the potential deployment of an advanced U.S. missile system in South Korea.
The second day of the National Assembly's four-day interpellation session focused on whether to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD).
NPAD lawmakers expressed scepticism over the latest interceptor, questioning its capability to counter a nuclear attack from the North.
“It is doubtful whether the shooting down a nuclear missile at the terminal stage would still prevent damage,” Rep. Baek Kun-ki said.
“Amid intensifying debate over THAAD, the need for the Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system and the Kill Chain has been overshadowed,” he added.
Instead of joining the U.S. missile defense, Seoul has been developing KAMD, a low-tier air defense program, and the Kill Chain, which is designed to launch strikes right after signs of imminent nuclear or missile provocations by the North are detected.
NPAD’s Ahn Gyu-baek also stressed the need to develop the KAMD and Kill Chain instead, saying the THAAD doesn’t fit the geographical conditions of the Korean Peninsula.
“THAAD is a system to defend against a missile with a range of over 1,000 km. However, North Korea is likely to fire a barrage of Rodong missiles with a range of 300-500km if it attacks the South,” he said. “THAAD is not a cure-all for our security.”
Facing questions over the government’s stance on the advanced interceptor, Defense Minister Han Min-koo said it is “one of the multiple means” under the Korea-U.S. alliance defense system.
“It still has destructive power against an enemy missile attack,” he said.
Stressing that Pyongyang’s nuclear missiles are the biggest threat to the nation, the minister argued that the North’s technology to miniaturize nuclear warheads has advanced considerably.
“Thanks to three nuclear tests, Pyongyang has allegedly secured 40 kilograms of plutonium and also has a plan to produce enriched uranium,” he added.
THAAD is regarded as the core of the U.S. ballistic missile defense (MD) system. It is a hot potato because the ruling and opposition parties are sharply divided over the issue.
Washington has pushed Seoul hard to station THAAD and join its regional anti-missile system along with Japan. While Washington has worked closely with Tokyo, Seoul has remained cautious because of Beijing’s strong opposition.
THAAD is a ground-based system equipped with X-Band radar that provides coverage over an area of some 600 miles. It will provide detection for missile capabilities inside China.
Beijing has strongly opposed the plan and pressed Seoul to reject it, describing the move as a threat to its security.
The government has maintained a policy of “strategic ambiguity” between Washington, its biggest ally, and China, its largest trading partner. It has kept a “3NO” (No Request, No Consultation, No Decision) position on the issue. In a rare remark, President Park Geun-hye said earlier that the government needs to secure enough information to make the “overall and right judgement.”