N. Korea fires more missiles
Pyongyang’s actions create uncertainty on THAAD: expert
North Korea fired what appeared to be several land- tosea missiles off its east coast on Thursday, one day after the South announced it had postponed the full deployment of a US anti- missile system.
Chinese experts said that North Korea’ s move is aimed at further provoking bilateral and multilateral confrontations in the Northeast Asian region, and may create uncertainty to South Korea’s suspension of the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense ( THAAD) system.
“North Korea fired multiple unidentified projectiles, assumed to be surface- to- sea missiles, this morning from the vicinity of Wonsan, Gangwon province,” the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff ( JCS) said on Thursday.
The JCS said that North Korea’s launch was “intended to showcase its missile capabilities and precision, and to protest the US Navy carrier strike groups and joint naval drills.”
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a press conference on Thursday that China is aware of North Korea’s latest test. She called on all parties to maintain restraint and to avoid intensifying regional tensions.
CNN quoted a US defense official as saying that the Pentagon was unlikely to release a statement as “these were not ballistic missiles capable of posing a threat.”
“North Korea’s latest move shows that it needs more tests to advance its missile and nuclear technology. And it also wants to create bilateral and multilateral tensions in Northeast Asia to engage in a military build- up,” Da Zhigang, director of the Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences’ Institute of Northeast Asian Studies, told the Global Times on Thursday.
Da said that these tests would also add uncertainty to the THAAD issue since South Korean THAAD supporters and the military may use it as an excuse to pressure the government.
South Korea on Wednesday said it will hold off on installing the remaining components of the THAAD system, amid early signs of easing tensions between the two countries, Reuters reported.
“North Korea also wanted to test newly- elected South Korean President Moon Jae- in, who has pledged to engage in dialogue with Pyongyang and promote people- to- people exchanges,” Jin Qiangyi, director of the Asia Research Center of Yanbian University, told the Global Times.
Thursday’s launch is North Korea’s fourth missile test since Moon assumed office on May 10.
“China should not be optimistic about the THAAD suspension, considering the current situation. It should keep pressuring North Korea, show the South its strong objection to THAAD and try to have a conversation with the US,” Jin said.
Moon said Thursday that he would not be intimidated by provocations from North Korea, and that his government would not compromise his country’s security, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
Moon made the remarks during his first plenary session of the national security council on Thursday.
Moon also said the only thing the North can gain from the provocation is international isolation and economic difficulties.
South Korea’s presidential office confirmed on Wednesday that a further deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense ( THAAD) anti- missile system is to be suspended, and there will be a full- blown environmental impact assessment into it.
A senior Blue House official said: “We won’t do anything to [ the two launchers] already deployed, but when it comes to the additional deployment [ of four launchers], we have to wait for the environmental impact assessment.”
During the recent Shangri- La Dialogue, South Korean President Moon Jae- in promised the US that it would not cancel the deployment of THAAD. Although the latest announcement from the Blue House is not much different from Moon’s promise to the US, Moon, at least, is slowing down the THAAD deployment. The “not canceling” and “slowing down” are two sides of the same coin shown to the US and China.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on June 1 that Russia would not ignore the US’ deployment of THAAD in South Korea, and pointed out the contested islands, known as the Northern Territories in Japan, would be an ideal place for military deployment against THAAD. The consistent stand of Russia and China on THAAD increases the pressure on Seoul.
THAAD is a strategic trap and South Korea is deeply mired in it. It will be difficult for Moon to extract himself. The US is leading the deployment, and the previous South Korean government gave it the green light.
But no matter how hard it is for South Korea to deal with the issue, China and Russia have no obligation to bear the consequence.
Obviously, the pressure China puts on South Korea has taken effect. Seoul’s will has been shaken. It now hopes that China will shoulder the damage caused by deploying THAAD for the sake of the overall relationship between China and South Korea.
Moon is more rational on THAAD than former President Park Geun- hye, which can benefit future China- South Korea relations.
No matter the outcome, that the Blue House announced a suspension in the deployment of THAAD can help reduce friction with China.
However, attitude is not every- thing. Without solving the problem of THAAD, the pain it has brought to bilateral relations will not disappear, and South Korea must swallow some of the bitter results.
China should be fully prepared for the worst- case scenario. Once South Korea finishes its deployment of THAAD, China should have corresponding countermeasures immediately. Sino- Russian cooperation on this will be important. Seoul must know it cannot escape scotfree.