Placing the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea, an issue that had once died down, has resurfaced as clear signs of cracks appeared in the U.S.-China cooperation against North Korea's nuclear program. Some experts argue that South Korea and the U.S. are currently discussing the possible location of the defense system and that the decision will be made before the South Korea-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting in October. The South Korean government will be tested in its diplomatic abilities as it stands between its ally, the U.S. and its biggest economic partner, China. Basically, this is a result brought on by the South Korean government, which concentrated on sanctions against North Korea, despite the fact that the THAAD has little utility as a solution to North Korea's nuclear problem.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter ignited the THAAD issue in a statement he made on June 2. Before attending the Asia Security Summit (The Shangri-La Dialogue), held in Singapore on June 3-5, Carter said that the U.S. could discuss the placement of THAAD with South Korea. Originally, the South Korean defense ministry had explained that THAAD was not an agenda in a meeting between the defense ministers of South Korea and the U.S. but on June 4, Minister of National Defense Han Min-koo stated a new position, "We have a clear determination to place the THAAD system." This led to words that South Korea, which had been studying the face of China, changed its attitude after noticing a change in the U.S. atmosphere. Then on June 5, China's Deputy Chief of the Joint Staff Sun Jianguo retorted, "Placing the THAAD system on the Korean Peninsula is an act that far exceeds the required defense capability." The intensity of the opposition could be felt by the fact that a senior official in the Chinese military expressed opposition at a major international event where military experts from 35 countries had gathered. South Korea and the U.S. have argued that THAAD is a limited defense system necessary to respond to the threats of North Korea's short to mid-range ballistic missiles, but the fact that the U.S. mentioned THAAD at this particular time raises questions on the true intention behind placing the THAAD system on the Korean Peninsula. Perhaps the more important reason is to keep China in check using North Korea's nuclear program as an excuse. After a visit to China by Ri Su-yong, the vice chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea early this month, China has been showing a conciliatory attitude towards North Korea in response to a U.S. attempt to bind China, and the U.S. has increased its pressure on China.
The effectiveness of THAAD has yet to be proven and claiming to respond with THAAD because North Korea's short-range missiles are a threat to South Korea is misleading the public. Placing the THAAD system on the Korean Peninsula will break the strategic balance between the U.S. and China in Northeast Asia, and can also have a huge impact on security on the Korean Peninsula. Despite the THAAD being such a serious issue, the South Korean government is busy studying the faces of the U.S. and China. In particular, China plays a key role in implementing sanctions against North Korea, so the South Korean government has no choice but to appease China as long as it insists on keeping to its hardline policy toward North Korea. The government must wake up from the dream of achieving denuclearization by choking North Korea and opt to resolve the issue of North Korea's nuclear program through dialogue. That is the only way it can escape from the dangerous tightrope act between the U.S. and China.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter ignited the THAAD issue in a statement he made on June 2. Before attending the Asia Security Summit (The Shangri-La Dialogue), held in Singapore on June 3-5, Carter said that the U.S. could discuss the placement of THAAD with South Korea. Originally, the South Korean defense ministry had explained that THAAD was not an agenda in a meeting between the defense ministers of South Korea and the U.S. but on June 4, Minister of National Defense Han Min-koo stated a new position, "We have a clear determination to place the THAAD system." This led to words that South Korea, which had been studying the face of China, changed its attitude after noticing a change in the U.S. atmosphere. Then on June 5, China's Deputy Chief of the Joint Staff Sun Jianguo retorted, "Placing the THAAD system on the Korean Peninsula is an act that far exceeds the required defense capability." The intensity of the opposition could be felt by the fact that a senior official in the Chinese military expressed opposition at a major international event where military experts from 35 countries had gathered. South Korea and the U.S. have argued that THAAD is a limited defense system necessary to respond to the threats of North Korea's short to mid-range ballistic missiles, but the fact that the U.S. mentioned THAAD at this particular time raises questions on the true intention behind placing the THAAD system on the Korean Peninsula. Perhaps the more important reason is to keep China in check using North Korea's nuclear program as an excuse. After a visit to China by Ri Su-yong, the vice chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea early this month, China has been showing a conciliatory attitude towards North Korea in response to a U.S. attempt to bind China, and the U.S. has increased its pressure on China.
The effectiveness of THAAD has yet to be proven and claiming to respond with THAAD because North Korea's short-range missiles are a threat to South Korea is misleading the public. Placing the THAAD system on the Korean Peninsula will break the strategic balance between the U.S. and China in Northeast Asia, and can also have a huge impact on security on the Korean Peninsula. Despite the THAAD being such a serious issue, the South Korean government is busy studying the faces of the U.S. and China. In particular, China plays a key role in implementing sanctions against North Korea, so the South Korean government has no choice but to appease China as long as it insists on keeping to its hardline policy toward North Korea. The government must wake up from the dream of achieving denuclearization by choking North Korea and opt to resolve the issue of North Korea's nuclear program through dialogue. That is the only way it can escape from the dangerous tightrope act between the U.S. and China.
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