Cheong Wa Dae reiterates THAAD is self-defense measure

By 임정요

Published : July 11, 2016 - 09:59

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The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae on Monday reiterated the recent decision by South Korea and the United States to station an advanced antimissile system here is a "self-defense" measure to counter growing military threats from North Korea.

"The (planned) deployment of (the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense) is a self-defense step to safeguard the well-being of the country, the lives of the people and their properties," presidential spokesman Jung Youn-kuk told reporters.

The statement is a response to strong protests from China and Russia, which have long argued that the installment of THAAD will undermine their security interests, although South Korea and the U.S. have made it clear that the new defensive asset will only target the North.

Photo taken on April 14, 2016, shows presidential spokesman Jung Youn-kuk speaking during a press conference. (Yonhap)

Beijing has expressed "strong discontent and firm opposition" against the allies' plan to deploy THAAD here. Moscow voiced "very serious concern" over the plan.

Experts said that Beijing is concerned that a radar system, attached to a THAAD battery, could be used to monitor China's military activities. China also fears that THAAD could undermine its nuclear deterrence against the U.S. and its capabilities to project power farther into the Pacific, the experts said.

THAAD, a core part of America's multilayered missile defense program, is designed to intercept incoming ballistic missiles at altitudes of 40 to 150 kilometers during the terminal phase of flight after detecting the missiles with a land-based radar system.

A THAAD battery consists of six truck-mounted launchers, 48 interceptors (eight per launcher), a fire control and communications unit, and an AN/TPY-2 radar. (Yonhap)

Cheong Wa Dae reiterates THAAD is self-defense measure

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