Saenuri urges Minjoo to express clear stance on THAAD

Published : Jul 14, 2016 - 10:03 Updated : Jul 14, 2016 - 14:01

South Korea's ruling Saenuri Party on Thursday urged the Minjoo Party of Korea to express a clear view on the deployment of an advanced U.S. missile defense system, as the main opposition continued to maintain a neutral position on the sensitive issue.

"The country's main opposition party should not be vague on the biggest security issue," said Chung Jin-suk, the ruling party whip.

Chung Jin-suk, the floor leader of the ruling Saenuri Party, takes a seat for a meeting held at the party's headquarters in Seoul on July 14. (Yonhap)

Last week, Seoul and Washington agreed to station the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system in South Korea to better counter advances in Pyongyang's missile capability.

While numerous Minjoo officials, including former party leader Moon Jae-in, expressed clear discontent against the deployment, the incumbent interim head Kim Chong-in has been reluctant to make a clear statement, giving the public an impression that the party does not support nor oppose the move.

Dissenters claim the deployment will make China and Russia uncomfortable, adding it could also induce North Korea to make further provocations.

Chung, meanwhile, also urged the minor People's Party to change its stance to give support to the THAAD project. The smaller party, which opposes the move, claims that the deployment requires parliamentary approval. (Yonhap)