Park chides China over THAAD

MPK urged to drop six members’ visit to Beijing

By Yi Whan-woo

China should hold North Korea accountable for threatening regional security instead of criticizing South Korea for its plan to deploy an advanced U.S. missile shield, Cheong Wa Dae said Sunday.

It also urged lawmakers from the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK) to cancel their planned visit to China to discuss controversial plans for deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in South Korea.

“It would be in the wrong order to claim that the decision to deploy THAAD is the cause of North Korea’s repeated military provocations,” Kim Sung-woo, the senior presidential secretary for public affairs, said in a briefing.

His remark means that President Park Geun-hye sent a firm message to the Chinese government which has strongly opposed the Park administration’s decision to counter North Korea’s missile and nuclear threats with the anti-missile defense battery.

North Korea’s evolving nuclear and missile threats are considered the primary reason for deploying THAAD here, Kim said.

“Before raising objections to our defensive measure, we think China should strongly address North Korea for repeatedly carrying out nuclear and missile tests and putting peace and stability in Northeast Asia at risk,” he added.

Kim also said the six MPK legislators who oppose the THAAD deployment should reconsider their plan to visit China to discuss the controversial issue for three days starting Monday.

The six ― Reps. Kim Young-ho, Park Jeung, Shin Dong-kuen, So Byung-hoon, Kim Byung-wook and Sohn Hye-won ― seek to meet Chinese officials and analysts to discuss regional security amid China’s strong opposition toward THAAD.

“We hope the political circles will support the government’s plan to deploy THAAD for the security of the nation and the people,” Kim said.

The presidential office’s demand for the MPK to cancel the visit to China comes as the main opposition has been internally divided over the THAAD issue.

MPK interim leader Rep. Kim Chong-in has insisted that the party has no objections to the planned THAAD deployment, although he complained that the government should have consulted the National Assembly sufficiently before making its decision.

Kim Chong-in also said he has been irked by the scheduled visit of the six, who are all serving their first parliamentary terms.

Despite their claim that their visit to China is for national interests, Kim Chong-in warned that Beijing may exploit them to promote its opposition to THAAD. He pointed out that Huanqiu Shibao, a leading Chinese newspaper, covered the planned visit, Saturday, in what is seen as an attempt to widen the political rift in South Korea over THAAD-related issues.

“We should be prudent in our diplomacy with the U.S. and China,” Kim said Sunday. “One should understand that the decision concerning THAAD was made in line with an alliance between Seoul and Washington. And I hope those six lawmakers are not being swayed by China.”

MPK floor leader Rep. Woo Sang-ho, who approved the trip for the six legislators, disagreed with the interim leader.

“It’s not too late to raise an objection after their visit or in case China really takes advantage of their trip for its own national interests,” Woo said.

Kim Young-ho echoed a similar view, saying “It’s the ruling Saenuri Party that should be blamed for failing to help the government in placating China.”

“The purpose of the China trip is for the MPK to serve as a bridge between South Korea and China,” he said. “The Saenuri Party was incompetent in using its diplomatic channels and it should encourage us instead of making harsh criticism.”

The Saenuri Party called the visit “a disgrace for South Korean politics.”

“The visit will only benefit China and I highly doubt whether the six lawmakers are qualified to serve in the National Assembly,” said party spokesman Rep. Ji Sang-wuk. “We encourage them to drop their plan immediately.”

Rep. Min Kyung-wook, another Saenuri spokesman, said Huanqiu Shibao’s report is aimed at prompting conflict within South Korean politics.

“And I find it more unfortunate that those six lawmakers do not understand that China will exploit them,” he said. “I encourage them to be sensible and reconsider their visit.”