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Key components of the THAAD missile defense system are brought to Seongju

In the early morning of Apr. 26, US Forces Korea suddenly delivered key equipment for the THAAD missile defense system - including the launchers and the radar - to the golf course in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province where the system is to be deployed. This basically means that the THAAD deployment has entered its final stage. No effort was made to persuade the South Korean public or to gain its consent, and the most basic administrative procedures, such as an environmental impact assessment, have been disregarded. Until recently, our concerns had been assuaged by repeated remarks by South Korean and US officials that THAAD would be deployed after the new government took office. But now the cover of darkness has been used to abruptly complete the deployment, as if it were a military operation, basically stabbing South Koreans in the back.

Considering that this move occurred just 13 days before the South Korean presidential election, the only possible interpretation is that it‘s an attempt to circumvent any attempts by the new government to reverse the THAAD deployment. THAAD was one of the most infamous plans that the Park Geun-hye government pushed forward without public consent. When the next government takes power, the proper approach would be to discuss the plan in the National Assembly, based on a national consensus, and to carry out additional deliberations with the US and China.

But with this sudden deployment, the US has strangled any such efforts in the cradle. The US does not seem to have any consideration for its South Korean ally. This will only worsen the resentment felt not only by local residents but also by South Koreans who are opposed to the THAAD deployment. While South Korea’s Defense Ministry said it would “proceed with the relevant steps as usual, including an environmental impact assessment and facility construction,” it is dubious whether an environmental impact assessment would make any difference if it occurs when the THAAD deployment is in its final stage.

Furthermore, a foreign policy advisor at the White House made comments suggesting that the THAAD deployment should be decided by South Korea‘s next president while US Vice President Mike Pence was visiting South Korea on Apr. 16. The only possible conclusions are that the US government reversed its plans in the space of a few days or that it had deliberately concealed its intentions to forge ahead with the deployment. On top of the recent controversy over lies concerning the course change of the US aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, the Trump administration is breeding distrust about its policy toward the Korean Peninsula.

The fire-control system for the THAAD system that was brought to the site is the X-band radar, about which the Chinese government has made such a fuss. Beijing immediately said that this would “greatly provoke tensions” on the Korean Peninsula and “strongly called for the facility in question to be removed.” China has made an effort to put pressure on North Korea, urging it to refrain from nuclear tests, in order to ease the tensions on the Korean Peninsula that have been heightened by recent speculation about an “April crisis.” But the delivery of the THAAD equipment will be sure to once again raise tensions on the Korean Peninsula and also have a negative impact on US-China relations.

It’s not too late for the US to halt the THAAD deployment, and it should discuss the issue further with the next government that will take power after the presidential election on May 9. South Korea‘s presidential candidates should not view the THAAD deployment as a way to help or hurt their candidacy. They ought to present clear options and positions to the South Korean public from the bigger picture of stability on the Korean Peninsula.

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]