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A petition called “Rescind the decision to deploy [the] THAAD antimissile system in South Korea” posted on “We the People

As tension mounts in South Korean society following the government’s announcement of its decision to deploy the American missile defense system THAAD in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, an online petition to withdraw the decision had been posted to the White House website.

On July 15, a petition under the title “Rescind the decision to deploy [the] THAAD antimissile system in South Korea” was posted on “We the People,” a petition platform on the White House website.

“The US and South Korean governments, against wide opposition of South Koreans (and strong subsequent backlash from local citizens of the deployment site [Seongju]), have agreed to deploy the US-made THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Air Defense) system in South Korea. This measure is supposedly to counter North Korean ballistic missiles and provide additional security, yet this is a controversial move that [is] likely to escalate tension in the region, by provoking North Korea, China and Russia into a spiraling arms race,” says the petition, which was reportedly launched by Koreans in the US.

“Now, more than ever, is the time to step back and de-escalate tensions by pursuing negotiated settlements that will provide [a] sustainable peace mechanism in the Korean Peninsula and the surrounding region,” said the petition.

The petition organizers hope to collect 100,000 signatures. As of morning on July 19, it had been signed by 6,350 people.

Readers can sign the petition by entering their name and their email address in the form on the right site of the website. To complete the signing procedure, click the link in the confirmation email that will be sent.

The website states that, if at least 100,000 signatures are collected during the month after a petition is posted (in this case, by Aug. 14), the White House will make an official response within 60 days.

The petition can be viewed at the following link:

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/rescind-decision-deploy-thaad-antimissile-system-south-korea

By Park Soo-jin, staff reporter

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