By Kang Seung-woo
The U.S. anti-missile battery to be deployed in the southeastern county of Seongju next year will prioritize protecting U.S. troops and its military equipment here, some opposition lawmakers alleged Thursday.
They claimed the South Korean government rushed to agree to the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system under U.S. pressure, putting its relations with China at risk.
South Korea announced Wednesday that the anti-missile system, operated by the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), will be located in the county, triggering fierce protests from residents.
The missile interceptor, which has an effective range of 200 kilometers, can protect key U.S. military installations, including those in Pyeongtaek and Daegu. However, Seoul and its surrounding area, with a population of roughly 25 million and major facilities, are out of its coverage range. Seongju is located 210 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
In order to calm opposition to THAAD, the defense ministry has repeated that it will ensure the security of South Korea and its people as well as American troops here against North Korea’s hostilities.
“It has become clear that the goal of the THAAD deployment is just to protect U.S. troops and their equipment,” said Justice Party Chairwoman Rep. Sim Sang-jeung.
Minjoo Party of Korea floor leader Woo Sang-ho also said, “In the case of war, Seoul and its surrounding areas will apparently become the main target, but THAAD cannot protect them, despite coming to South Korea to counter North Korean nuclear and missile threats.”
He added: “Given that, doubts about the necessity of bringing THAAD here are escalating.”
South Korea and the United States began formal consultations on THAAD deployment in March and there was speculation that the allies would unveil their conclusion in October when their defense ministers meet at the Security Consultative Meeting in Washington, D.C.
However, the two sides unexpectedly announced their official decision to deploy the anti-missile system last week and unveiled its site in less than a week ― although they said the site would be announced “within a couple of weeks.”
“The South Korean government wanted to announce the THAAD deployment after the G-20 summit, scheduled for September in China, but the U.S. side pressed us to make it public as soon as possible,” said a government official.
Justice Party lawmaker Kim Jong-dae, a military expert-turned-politician, said, “South Korea succumbed to U.S. pressure in the selection process, so it handled the matter carelessly.”
The THAAD decision is driving a wedge between South Korea and China ― the biggest fallout from the deployment plan.
While holding negotiations with Washington in secrecy, the South Korean government showed little efforts to convince the Chinese ― who claim that THAAD’s radar will closely monitor its military activities ― of its necessity.
Following the decision, there has been growing concerns that it could fray security and economic ties with China, if Beijing takes any retaliatory action.
“The THAAD decision has left President Park’s China policy in tatters, let alone inter-Korean relations,” said a government official.
Since President Park Geun-hye took office in February 2013, she has made efforts to improve relations with Beijing, hoping that the Chinese government would curb the North’s pursuit of nuclear weapons.
She even attended China’s massive military parade in September to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, something that the leaders of other U.S. allies did not do, making the bilateral ties their best-ever.