Seoul’s and Washington’s decision to have the United States missile defense complex THAAD up and running in the south of the Korean Peninsula in 2017 is aimed not just at countering a hypothetical threat from Pyongyang, but also at strengthening U.S. positions in the Asia-Pacific Region, polled experts have told TASS. “South Koreans are afraid of any aggravations in relations with Pyongyang, so they urge the authorities not to quarrel with the northerners and strongly protest THAAD deployment”, Arbatov said.
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As many as 908 people joined in the head-shaving part of the protest, organizers said.
Seoungju residents chant slogans during a protest against the government’s decision on deploying a US THAAD missile shield in Seongju.
Both China and Russian Federation are opposed to the THAAD system and accuse the USA and South Korea of threatening their security.
It is meant to destroy possible North Korean missiles.
But South Korean President Park Geun-Hye defended the proposed deployment of a United States anti-missile system as an act of self-defense against North Korea.
The government approved the deployment of the THAAD system based on the North’s repeated threats to both the South and the USA of “merciless” and “annihilating” nuclear strikes. “We residents gathered here and shaved heads to demonstrate against its deployment”. The parties concerned denied the reports, but some media reported that China’s State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, which governs media in the country, had said that activities of South Korean artists in China will be restricted due to global reasons.
Analysts said that North Korea is likely to make another provocation ahead of joint annual military drills between Seoul and Washington slated for late this month.
South Korean President Park Geun-Hye on Monday urged North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapon programme and defended the deployment of a USA anti-missile system in the face of repeated “provocations” by Pyongyang. Russian Federation also opposed the deployment on similar grounds.
Opinion polls show that that majority of South Korean’s do support the deployment of the THAAD system. The banner reads “Desperately oppose deploying THAAD”.
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I believe Beijing is pretty unlikely to do so, not only because it will have very little effect on the outcome as far as the THAAD deployment is concerned, but also because it might just backfire and further alienate South Korea and reinforce the notion preached by “Sinoskeptics” in Seoul that China is not a reliable ally. The source said procuring more short-range Hyunmoo-2 series of tactical ballistic missiles (TBM), which have maximum ranges of 300-500 km, and the 500-1,000 km-range Hyunmoo-3 series of cruise missiles can help Seoul “neutralise” Pyongyang’s missile threat.
