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| A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense interceptor is launched from Wake Island in the Pacific Ocean on Nov. 1, 2015. / AFP-Yonhap |
By Ko Dong-hwan
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| Donald Trump |
Trump said in an exclusive interview with Reuters Thursday that he wanted South Korea to pay for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery deployed in Seongju County, North Gyeongsang Province, on Wednesday.
The battery's key elements, including the AN/TPY-2 X-Band radar and mobile launchers, were installed in a sudden unexpected overnight operation.
A decision on the deployment was expected to be left to the next administration after the May 9 presidential election.
Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn and Defense Minister Han Min-koo were criticized on Thursday for allegedly rushing the deployment to make the installation irreversible.
Kim Ki-jung, a top foreign policy adviser to front-runner candidate Moon Jae-in, said Friday that paying for THAAD was impossible.
"Even if we purchase THAAD, its main operation would be in the hands of the U.S.," said Kim. "So purchasing it would be an impossible option. That was our topic when we were considering the options."
