S. Korea hit by THAAD backlash

[THE INVESTOR] South Korea is facing opposition within and beyond the peninsula following its announcement made with the U.S. of a plan to station an advanced U.S. missile defense system here,

On Friday, Seoul and Washington presented their plan to complete the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system here to counter growing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea, ending a five-month consultation period. 

As of Sunday, North Korea had yet to release a statement on the matter, but experts noted that Pyongyang’s launch of a submarine-launched ballistic missile on Saturday was apparently a form of armed protest against the THAAD deployment.

The North’s Korean Central News Agency has consistently condemned the allies’ move to station the disputed missile defense system. On June 19, it even claimed that THAAD could make the Korean Peninsula a primary military target.

THAAD refers to an advanced antiballistic missile defense system designed to shoot down ballistic missiles in their terminal phase, which is around 40 to 150 kilometers in altitude. It comprises of a multiple launcher capable of equipping eight missiles each along with the X-Band active electronically scanned array covering up to 2,000 kilometers.

Under the Seoul-Washington Status of Forces Agreement, South Korea will provide the relevant facilities and land to host the system, while the U.S. will cover expenses for its deployment and operation.

Its potential deployment has been toyed with for years, but talks between the allies took off after the North conducted a nuclear test in January and a long-range rocket launch in February.

But the deployment of such an advanced missile system in the peninsula has sparked opposition from neighboring China and Russia, particularly over its powerful radars that reach beyond North Korea.

Beijing argued that THAAD will not help achieve the denuclearization of Pyongyang and will instead hurt the peace and stability in the region by impairing the strategic interests of China and other countries. Russia also expressed “serious concerns” toward the plan.

Seoul’s Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se called for a meeting with ministry officials on Saturday to discuss the diplomatic aftermath of the THAAD deployment, as well as the consequent diplomatic effects.

Amid the growing disputes, the allies are defending their decision.

Defense Minister Han Min-koo said in a TV interview Sunday that THAAD’s fire-control radar is best operated within the 600-800 kilometer range, which is mostly confined to the northern region of the peninsula.

“We need to ask ourselves whether THAAD is indeed such a destructive issue in international relations, and enhance the level of strategic conversation (with China),” he said.

The issue has also stirred up disputes within the country, with some questioning its effectiveness in protecting South Korea.

Despite the ministry’s claim that THAAD was the most precise weapon system “in the history of mankind,” some experts have pointed out that the short distance between the Koreas might make it hard to precisely strike down ballistic missiles.

Refuting such skeptic views, Minister Han said that the defense system is capable of intercepting all missiles operated by the North, including SLBMs.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s domestic market has taken a hit, with the Korean won and stock prices related to Chinese consumers plummeting after the allies officially announced the THAAD deployment on Friday.

The benchmark KOSPI, already turbulent due to the Brexit vote aftermath, closed 10.98 points lower on Friday, and local reports said the market capitalization of Chinese-related stocks fell by 3.2 trillion won ($2.7 billion).

Cheong Seong-chang, a senior researcher at Sejong Institute, said while THAAD might enhance antimissile capacity, it may irk China to the extent that Beijing might opt to loosen economic sanctions against the North.

North Korea is currently under U.N.-led sanctions imposed in March as punitive actions against its nuclear and missile programs. Chinese participation in the sanctions is assessed as a key factor for the sanctions to be effective, as it is Pyongyang’s sole major trading partner.

“In addition to the financial losses (by South Korea), there is now a greater risk that China may intervene in case of Kim Jong-un regime’s fall, which may hinder the Koreas’ reunification,” he said, raising concern that Seoul’s potential conflict with Beijing and Moscow might benefit Pyongyang.

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