Government Declares THAAD Normalization... Will THAAD Full Deployment Accelerate?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] As the Presidential Office and the government express their intention to normalize the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) base of the US Forces Korea in Seongju, Gyeongbuk by the end of this month, it is expected that the relevant authorities' movements will accelerate. After China mentioned the "Three No's" regarding THAAD and added the "One Han" (limited operation of THAAD), they decided to expedite ensuring smooth ground access to the base. Former USFK Commander Robert Abrams has directly refuted the claim that THAAD in Korea undermines China's security interests.

A military official said on the 12th, "Smooth ground access is essential for 24-hour, frequent supply of goods to the THAAD base," adding, "We plan to speed up the process, considering procedures such as environmental impact assessments."

One THAAD battery was deployed at the Seongju base in April 2017. However, until May last year, the base entrance was blocked by THAAD opposition groups and residents. Because of this, construction materials and daily necessities could not be properly brought in, forcing US and Korean soldiers to live in temporary container barracks, which escalated into an issue concerning the US-ROK alliance.

Following the normalization of the base, formal deployment (normal operation) is also expected to accelerate. The currently deployed THAAD is in a state of "temporary deployment" due to blocked construction of surrounding bases and road maintenance. The government plans to complete a general environmental impact assessment by March next year for this purpose. Additionally, procedures to grant some US military facility land within the base to the US Forces Korea will be undertaken.

The US side's rhetoric toward China is also intensifying. Following the US State Department's comment that it was "inappropriate," former Commander Abrams stated on the 11th (local time) in response to a request for comment from Radio Free Asia (RFA), "The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs should clearly explain how defense systems like THAAD deployed in Korea infringe upon China's strategic security interests," pointing out, "China has yet to justify this claim."

He argued, "Rather, China should say that its new radar installed in the east targeting Korea and the long-range missiles deployed in the Northern Theater Command, which have Korea within their range, pose a threat to Korean security."