By Chung Ah-young
Washington may increase the pressure on South Korea for the stationing of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) unit on South Korean soil following the North's claimed test of a hydrogen bomb, experts said Thursday.
The United States discussed its measures with South Korea to deploy U.S. strategic assets on the Korean peninsula to deter the North’s growing threats.
Defense Minister Han Min-koo and his U.S. counterpart Ashton Carter discussed ways they could tighten their security collaboration after the North conducted its fourth nuclear test on Wednesday.
"Secretary Carter reaffirmed the U.S.’ ironclad defense commitment to South Korea, and this includes all kinds of extended deterrence assets," Han said in a joint press release with Carter.
“Extended deterrence” usually refers to the U.S. defense ability, or nuclear forces by offering the nuclear umbrella and deploying conventional weapons and the missile defense systems to its allies when they are under threats.
Experts said that this means the reopening of the debate on the deployment of THAAD or redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea to effectively deter the provocation of the reclusive regime.
It is said that THAAD is one of the options for the U.S. to enhance its military presence in the Northeast Asian region.
Seoul has yet to respond to Washington’s repeated pressures for deployment of THAAD here, considering opposition from China, Korea’s No. 1 trading partner. China has been pressing Seoul to reject the deployment, citing that it could be used to nullify Beijing’s military strike capabilities. Russia has expressed opposition to the deployment as well.
Rep. Mac Thornberry, chairman of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee, stressed the necessity to deploy missile defense systems to South Korea and to strengthen its homeland defenses on Wednesday.
“The U.S. must work with our South Korean allies to deploy missile defense systems, including THAAD, on the peninsula and work at home to strengthen our homeland defenses,” Thornberry said.
“We must also take immediate steps to strengthen our own nuclear deterrent, which is the foundation for our other defense capabilities,” he said.
Sources said that if the hydrogen bomb test is proven to be true as North Korea claims, it is a game changer in the geopolitical landscape of the region.
“To deter the nuclear possession of North Korea is becoming a far-fetched goal. So various deterrence measures should be strengthened,” sources said.