The protracted preparation to launch the official working-level negotiations over the deployment of an advanced missile defense system here reflects the number of thorny issues the two sides must tackle such as costs, environment and health concerns.

The talks are expected to be held this week and the South Korean government officials assured that the preparation was smooth, but it comes more than two weeks after the two sides announced they would begin formal consultations.

On Feb.7, the two countries said that they would discuss the stationing of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system in the country, in light of rising inter-Korea tension sparked by North Korea’s nuclear testing and a long-range rocket launch.

“Discussions about the composition and operation (of the working group) are in progress. We will inform (the media) when it is completed,” said Moon Sang-kyun, the spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense on Monday.

Earlier in the day, local media -- citing a government official -- reported that the allies plan to hold the first working group meeting by the end of this week.

Last week, the military had announced that it was aiming to kick things off by the end of that week. 

Such contradicting reports indicate the complicated nature of the talks over issues such as possible health hazards from THAAD’s radar and whether South Korea will shoulder some of the costs.

Although the Defense Ministry has said that the U.S. will shoulder the operating costs of THAAD, rumors have emerged that the Seoul government is planning to buy the system.

Defense Ministry spokesman Moon flatly denied it, and reiterated his denial of the allies hitting some bumps in the talks.

Environment and health concerns have led to protestsin some areas where THAAD could be potentially deployed.

Won Chang-muk, the mayor of Wonju, Gangwon Province, said Monday that he will “throw himself with citizens of Wonju” to ensure that THAAD is not deployed in his city.

But some experts said that the late talks may simply be because the allies are waiting for an opportune time.

Kim Yeol-su, a professor of international politics professor at Sungshin Women’s University, suspected that the delay was to avoid putting too much pressure on China, which is opposed to stationing THAAD here on concerns that the system is intended to target its mainland.

By Yoon Min-sik (minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)