By Kang Seung-woo
Seoul expressed dissatisfaction Tuesday over Beijing’s apparent opposition to a possible deployment of a U.S. missile shield.
“Neighboring countries can have their own positions on the THAAD deployment here by the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), but they should not attempt to wield leverage on our own national security policy,” Ministry of National Defense spokesman Kim Min-seok said in a briefing.
THAAD stands for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense and is widely regarded as the core of the U.S. ballistic missile defense system. China alleges that any deployment in Korea would be targeting it.
Kim’s remarks came one day after Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Liu Jianchao asked the Korean government not to allow the deployment of the advanced missile interceptor.
“It would be appreciated if Korea takes China’s interest and concerns over THAAD into deep consideration,“ Liu told reporters Monday after meeting Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Lee Kyung-soo in Seoul.
The Chinese official also said that he hoped the United States and Korea would “show sound judgment.”
Last June, USFK Commander Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti recommended THAAD deployment on Korean soil amid evolving North Korean missile threats.
“The USFK’s possible deployment of THAAD is based on an assessment of North Korea’s escalating threats of nuclear and missile weapons,“ said the spokesman.
“We will make a decision based upon our own judgment after putting security interests before anything else if the U.S. government asks for consultation.“
Kim added that Defense Minister Han Min-koo made this clear to his Chinese counterpart last month.
Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan voiced concerns about the interceptor that come from fears that the X-Band radar, the core of THAAD, and interceptors could be used to nullify China’s military strike capabilities.
In October, Han said that the government was dealing with the THAAD issue from a security perspective.
“With usable means limited to counter North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats, if THAAD is deployed, it will helpful to our security and defense,“ Han told lawmakers at an annual National Assembly audit.
Amid rampant speculation that Seoul will eventually purchase the missile system, the defense ministry rejected it.
“We have no plan to purchase THAAD,“ Kim said, adding that the government’s sole option is an independent, low-tier missile shield, called the Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD).
KAMD, scheduled to be deployed by 2022, will be comprised of the Patriot PAC-3 system as well as under-development L-SAM and M-SAM ground-to-air missiles.
Korea plans to upgrade its PAC-2 to PAC-3, which can shoot down missiles at an altitude of up to 40 kilometers, by 2020.