SoKor pres’l bet casts doubt over US missiles

SEOUL, South Korea—A possible South Korean presidential contender said on Thursday his country should reconsider plans to deploy an advanced US missile defense system to cope with North Korean threats, a move Washington is likely to see as disruptive.

Liberal opposition politician Moon Jae-in said the security benefits of having Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (Thaad) would be curtailed by worsened relations with neighbors China and Russia.

He downplayed concerns that South Korea backtracking on the plans would cause tension with the United States, which he said was the “most important country” for South Korea in face of nucleararmed, rival North.

“The issue of whether or not to deploy Thaad should be pushed to the next government,” Moon said in a news conference.

“Reconsidering Thaad would have to be preceded with diplo- matic efforts, including diplomatic efforts with the United States. I don’t think that the reconsidering of Thaad would harm the South Korea-US alliance,” he said.

Recent opinion polls have shown Moon as a presidential favorite amid the popular anger over conservative President Park Geun-hye, whose powers were suspended after lawmakers last week voted to impeach her over an explosive corruption scandal.

South Korea’s Constitutional Court has up to six months to decide whether Park should permanently step down.

If Park is formally removed from office, the country would hold a presidential election within 60 days.

Moon, who conceded the 2012 presidential race to Park, said he expected the court to rule on Park’s impeachment sometime between late January and early March, setting up a presidential election around April or May. (AP)