hankyoreh

THAAD missile defense launchers

There is a gradually increasing atmosphere of discomfort in the US in regard to the position South Korea’s new administration takes on the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system. While the US administration has demonstrated a strong desire to understand South Korea’s position, a gap in opinions has been made evident by the public opposition of a few US lawmakers.

When asked at a regular briefing on June 8 if the South Korean government’s decision to conduct an environmental impact assessment was a disappointment, US State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said she would not characterize the situation that way, but that the circumstances surrounding THAAD were very important to the US government.

“This is a conversation that’s taken place at the highest level,” Nauert said. “We would continue to say that THAAD was an alliance decision at the time, and we continue to work closely with South Korea throughout their process.” she continued. Comments like these from Nauert have continued to focus on the explanation that the THAAD deployment has been carried out transparently and reveal some wariness about the possibility that the system may be withdrawn.

Nauert also stated that the THAAD issue was mentioned at a White House meeting about the current state of security affairs between President Trump, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. The issue of THAAD first arose between Tillerson and Mattis at a regular working breakfast held at the State Department before the White House meeting. While the US administration has acknowledged that it thoroughly understands the South Korean government’s position, the US media has painted the situation as the South Korean government choosing China over the US, adding pressure to the situation for the administration.

The US Congress is also putting a little more pressure on the South Korean government. “The THAAD defensive missile system is critical to protecting South Koreans from Kim Jong Un’s growing arsenal. I hope any environmental concerns related to the full deployment of THAAD will be dispelled with a quick and thorough review,” US House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce said in a statement on June 7. Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin also expressed displeasure, stating in recent media interviews that he cannot understand the South Korean government’s recent actions.

Robert Gallucci, a former US Department of State nuclear negotiator with North Korea, spoke with the Hankyoreh and others following his inauguration ceremony for the position of chairman at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies affiliated US-Korea Institute, stating that, “Moon Jae-in is the president. He can decide whether or not to postpone or halt [the THAAD deployment].” Gallucci continued, “[The environmental impact assessment] is a valid measure, and I am not against it.”

By Yi Yong-in, Washington correspondent

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