hankyoreh

US President Donald Trump

On Apr. 27, US President Donald Trump asked South Korea to pay one billion dollars as the cost of deploying the THAAD missile defense system. The demand is absurd. It doesn’t make sense to ask South Koreans to pay for THAAD when the people don’t even want the system, and when that system is being deployed in Seongju County, North Gyeongsang Province – far from the armistice line – in order to protect US military bases. While many had been concerned that a substantial part of the financial burden of THAAD would be shifted to South Korea once the system became fully operational, those concerns have become reality more quickly, and on a larger scale, than expected. The administrations of former president Park Geun-hye and acting president Hwang Kyo-ahn deceived the public with the claim that since THAAD is a US weapons system, South Korea would only have to provide the base and the basic infrastructure. What excuses are they going to make now?

The sudden mention of 1 billion dollars may be an example of Trump’s arrogant attitude. He demands that South Korea foot the entire cost of a THAAD battery; considering that the US military is already running the battery, it’s impossible to know whether that’s even possible. South Korea’s Ministry of Defense immediately declared that it “continues to hold that the US will cover the cost of THAAD.” But since the remark was made by the US president, it’s obvious that South Korea will be left with a huge chunk of the bill, even if it doesn’t buy the battery outright. Ultimately, South Korea has been maneuvered into the worst possible situation – suffering diplomatic and economic friction with China because of a THAAD battery that’s completely useless for defending the capital area, while having to pay the US through the nose for that battery.

One of the main arguments that the South Korean government put forth in support of the THAAD deployment is that South Korea wouldn’t have to pay for it. In July 2016, Defense Minister Han Min-koo told the National Assembly that the US would be covering the 1.5 trillion won (US$1.31 billion) cost of deploying and operating THAAD and that South Korea would only cover the cost of providing the base. The ministry responded to concerns that South Korea would be asked to cover more of the cost down the road by insisting that that won’t happen. The government has fooled the public for nearly a year. What angers South Koreans even more than Trump’s unpredictability is the South Korea government’s complacent and irresponsible attitude. It’s enough to make us wonder whether this government prioritizes the wishes of the Korean people or whether it’s representing US interests.

It’s not too late for the current administration to put the THAAD deployment on ice, and the next administration should have the National Assembly review the question of whether THAAD should be deployed. With the US placing such a steep price tag on THAAD, there’s no longer any reason to dodge the approval of the National Assembly. There also needs to be another investigation into the problematic aspects of how the decision was made to deploy THAAD. It’s crushing to think that the 10 months of controversy and conflict into which the entire country was plunged have culminated in a bill for US$1 billion.

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