By Jun Ji-hye
The buzz underway about the potential deployment of an advanced U.S. missile defense system here hits the same chord as the Shakespearean comedy, “Much Ado About Nothing.”
Seoul and Washington have maintained that not even formal discussions have taken place about it on the Korean Peninsula.
The only official recognition about the potential deployment of the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense or THAAD has been made by U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) in relation to its survey of locations where it could be deployed. The cited places include Pyeongtaek in Gyeonggi Province, Wonju in Gangwon Province and Busan.
But this falls short of any meaningful bilateral progress.
The USFK said that no decision has been made.
The Ministry of National Defense was no different, with spokesman Kim Min-seok saying, “No discussions have been held.”
But already, experts and media are speculating as if a decision on the deployment was near, adding to it the political flavor of a U.S.-China confrontation.
“Pure theories and groundless rumors have stoked controversy,” said Kim Dae-young, a senior research fellow of the Korea Defense and Security Forum. “The media and analysts need to carefully think about whether this commotion is helpful for national interest.”
Kim said indiscriminate media reports quoting unidentified sources have invited repercussions from China.
“Whether to deploy THAAD is a subject that the government needs to handle steadily by carefully considering the actual benefits,” Kim said.
As a matter of fact, the rumors have already affected the superpower rivalry between the big two.
China is pressing Seoul to block the U.S. move, alleging that it could be used to nullify Beijing’s military strike capabilities.
Also contributing to the fray are the ruling Saenuri Party and Cheong Wa Dae.
Saenuri Party floor leader Rep. Yoo Seong-min has been calling for an open debate over the deployment of the anti-ballistic missile system. The presidential office is trying to handle it quietly, only to find itself at the center of the THAAD controversy.
Shin In-kyun, president of the Korea Defense Network, said, “The government might not be able to talk about the deployment openly as it is not a subject that it can make a quick decision about.”
Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye