Opposition calls for Assembly approval of THAAD deployment
By Kim Hyo-jin
Opposition parties called on the government, Wednesday, to get parliamentary approval for the planned deployment of the U.S.’s Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery here.
They criticized the government for failing to seek public understanding about the controversial issue in advance, saying the decision should be withdrawn if the National Assembly opposes it.
The government picked Seongju County in North Gyeongsang Province as the location for the missile-defense battery.
“A deployment of the THAAD battery is a subject that needs the National Assembly’s ratification as it takes public money and land,” said Rep. Kim Song-sik, chief policymaker of the minor opposition People’s Party.
“We hardly believe the U.S. will afford the whole cost to run the system; moreover, Seongju is now under control of the South Korean army, but will belong to the USFK following the THAAD deployment.”
Moon Jae-in, former leader of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK), also strongly protested the government’s decision in tune with the minor People’s Party, calling for a re-consideration. He is a major opposition contender for the presidential election next year.
“It’s hard to understand why the government hastily made the decision and pushed ahead with it while fanning public uneasiness,” Moon said in a press release.
“It is desirable for the government to go through a process of seeking parliamentary approval considering the issue would require our financial burden and part of our territory.”
Taking a hard-line tone, Moon further insisted that “if needed, the Assembly should consider revising the Seoul-Washington Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).”
The government earlier said that a deployment of the THAAD battery does not require parliamentary approval as the USFK will cover expenses for its deployment and operation, mentioning the regulations in the SOFA.
Following the government’s announcement over the THAAD location, the MPK stepped up condemning its hasty decision lacking public consensus.
“It’s against common sense that the government skipped the process of discussing the matter with citizens about the decided location,” Lee Jae-kyung, the MPK’s spokesperson said.
The party decided to form a committee to come up with measures against the government’s move. But the party did not reach a conclusion about whether to oppose the decision itself as the party’s official position, he added.