South Korea's ruling party chief said Tuesday that a decision on whether to deploy a U.S. anti-missile defense system in South Korea should be left to the government, not his party.
Kim Moo-sung's remarks came in response to a reporter's question about how he views China's concerns over the possible deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery in South Korea.
Seoul maintains that the issue has never come up for consideration, but Washington has previously hinted it would deploy a THAAD battery in South Korea, which is home to about 28,500 American troops.
U.S. officials say the THAAD, if deployed in South Korea, would better cope with North Korea's growing missile and nuclear threats, but China is strongly opposed to the plan, seeing it as a direct threat to its national security.
"The government is probably thinking much harder about it than we are," Kim, chairman of the Saenuri Party, told reporters after attending a seminar at the National Assembly building in Seoul.
Kim, commenting for the first time on the issue, said his party's floor leader Yoo Seong-min has voiced support for the THAAD's deployment based on his personal views and knowledge of the system as a former chairman of the parliamentary defense committee.
"(Yoo) is saying we should have a brainstorming session during a general meeting as most lawmakers are not familiar with the issue -- it's not for us to decide on such a sensitive issue," the chairman said. "Sensitive issues that are related to both foreign affairs and national defense are the responsibility of the government." (Yonhap)
