Seoul angers Washington by freezing missile system deployment for environmental tests

THE South Korean government yesterday decided to suspend the controversial deployment of a US missile intercept system, putting Seoul on a potential collision course with Washington’s regional defence strategy.

The South Korean presidential office announced that rolling out the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system would be frozen until an environmental impact assessment is finished – which could take up to a year.

It follows a political outcry over allegations that the new liberal president, Moon Jae-in, who was elected last month, was not told by defence officials how much equipment had already been brought into the country.

The US views THAAD as vital to protect east Asia, and tens of thousands of American troops, from the threat of missile attacks from North Korea.

But its planned deployment has not only infuriated Beijing, which fears the encroachment of THAAD’S powerful surveillance system on its territory, it has also bitterly divided South Korean public opinion.

Seoul agreed last year under Mr Moon’s ousted predecessor, Park Geun-hye, to deploy the system on a golf course in the southern county of Seongju. The installation of two missile launchers during the election campaign prompted fierce protests.

“We are not saying the two launchers and other equipment that has already been deployed should be withdrawn. But those that have yet to be deployed will have to wait,” an official said. This would include four more launchers that arrived recently in the South and which are currently being stored at a US army base.

The deputy minister of defence policy, Wee Seung-ho, was suspended on Monday after a government inquiry found that he had deliberately failed to report the arrival of those launchers.

The South’s military cited a confidentiality agreement with the US as a reason to hide the information from Seoul’s new commander-in-chief.