The United Nations Security Council attempted to release a statement condemning North Korea’s missile launches but the move ended in failure because of China’s position on THAAD deployment in South Korea. On July 15, a petition called “Rescind the decision to deploy [the] THAAD antimissile system in South Korea” was added to the We the People petition platform, which is part of the White House website.
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The statement by President Park Geun-hye’s office marked an escalation of diplomatic tensions between South Korea and China, which has sharply criticized Seoul’s move to host a Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) unit with the US military.
“Rather than taking issue with our purely defensive action, China should raise issue in a stronger manner with North Korea which is breaking peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and Northeast by conducting four nuclear tests and, just this year, launching more than 10 ballistic missiles”, it said.
Seoul’s decision to deploy the powerful U.S. system, to counter a growing threat from North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, threatens to damage relations with its largest trading partner Beijing.
In the wake of North Korea’s missile launch on August 3, the Security Council convened an emergency meeting upon the request of Japan, the United States and South Korea.
China is the sole major ally of the impoverished and isolated North, which relies heavily on food and oil imports from its neighbour.
Beijing has long protested any move to introduce missile defense shields in the region saying that it would destabilize the regional security balance increasing the likelihood that North Korea feels its hand is forced.
“No matter what the intention of these lawmakers is, their trip would eventually help strengthen the Chinese government’s stance and deepen division within South Koreans”, it said.
After reading the statement, Kim Sung-woo, chief presidential secretary for public affairs, said, “Chinese media are putting the cart before the horse in insisting that Seoul’s decision to deploy the THAAD system in its territory is the cause of Pyongyang’s successive ballistic missile launches and other military provocations”.
The decision to host THAAD in the South has met opposition from left-leaning Seoul lawmakers and activists who argue it will imperil diplomatic and economic ties with China.
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Lee, however, arrived in China on Saturday as scheduled.
