US, South Korea in joint message to North
IRKED CHINA VOWS TO ‘RESOLUTELY TAKE NECESSARY STEPS’ TO DEFEND ITS INTERESTS
South Korean Multiple Launch Rocket System fires rockets during a joint live firing exercise between South Korea and the US in Pocheon, near Seoul, yesterday. Amid rising tensions with the North, the US started installing a controversial anti-missile defence system in South Korea, triggering protests. China, meanwhile, urged an end to the drill and a stop to North Korea’s nuclear programme to calm tensions.
The US military started moving parts of an anti-missile defence system to a deployment site in South Korea yesterday, triggering protests from villagers and criticism from China, amid tension over North Korea’s weapons development.
The earlier-than-expected steps to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (Thaad) system was also denounced by the front-runner in South Korea’s presidential election on May 9.
South Korea’s defence ministry said elements of Thaad were moved to the deployment site, on what had been a golf course, about 250km south of the capital, Seoul.
“South Korea and the United States have been working to secure an early operational capability of the THAAD system in response to North Korea’s advancing nuclear and missile threat,” the ministry said in a statement.
The battery was expected to be operational by the end of the year, it said.
The United States and South Korea agreed last year to deploy the Thaad to counter the threat of missile launches by North Korea. They say it is solely aimed at defending against North Korea.
China opposition
But China says the system’s radar can penetrate deep into its territory and undermine its security, while it will do little to deter the North, and is adamant in its opposition.
“China strongly urges the United States and South Korea to stop actions that worsen regional tensions and harm China’s strategic security interests and cancel the deployment of the Thaad system and withdraw the equipment,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a briefing.
“China will resolutely take necessary steps to defend its interests,” Geng said, without elaborating.
China is North Korea’s sole major ally and is seen as crucial to US-led efforts to rein in its bellicose, isolated neighbour.
South Korea has accused China of discriminating against some South Korean companies operating in China because of the deployment.