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| A military vehicle carrying parts of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system moves to a golf course in Seongju County, North Gyeongsang Province, Wednesday, while police confront local residents protesting the deployment. The U.S. Forces Korea pushed for an overnight operation to transport THAAD elements including its radar to the site to begin the controversial installation. / Yonhap |
US rushes to deploy equipment for anti-missile battery
By Jun Ji-hye
Leading presidential candidate Moon Jae-in said Wednesday that he strongly regretted the rush to start the deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in Seongju County, North Gyeongsang Province.
Moon of the Democratic Party of Korea said the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), which pushed for a surprise overnight operation to transport elements of the anti-missile system, ignored due procedure and the opinion of the South Korean people.
The USFK brought the AN/TPY-2 X-Band radar, mobile launchers and other parts, needed to set up the THAAD unit, to a former golf course in Seongju by trailers and trucks early in the morning. The USFK secured the land, previously owned by Lotte Group, from the South Korean government, April 20.
The sudden deployment comes at a sensitive time when the presidential election here is just two weeks away.
Moon said he is firm in the position that the U.S. government should discuss the deployment of THAAD with the next South Korean administration.
"The THAAD deployment should not be rushed ahead of the presidential election," Moon told reporters.
Rep. Park Kwang-on, the public relations chief of Moon's election campaign, said deploying the equipment before the completion of an environmental survey showed that due procedure had not been followed.
"We express strong regret for this," he said, noting that local residents still oppose the installation.
Park said the overnight operation was improper as it left the next president, who will be elected May 9, no choice in determining policies.
"The deployment process should stop right now, and it will be proper to let the next government make a final decision," he said.
Park also urged the Ministry of National Defense to clarify its role in the sudden operation, during which local residents clashed with 8,000 police to protest the transportation. A dozen residents were reportedly injured.
The Pentagon announced later Wednesday, "We are working with the Republic of Korea to complete the deployment of THAAD, a defensive weapons system, to the ROK as soon as feasible."
South Korea and the United States agreed last July to deploy the THAAD system to better deter North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile threats. Since then, the plan has been much disputed especially after former President Park Geun-hye was impeached in December for a massive corruption scandal.
Objectors to THAAD raised doubts over the battery's capability, as the system has only been tested under defined conditions and never used in a real wartime situation. They also cite China's strong opposition, saying the deployment will worsen Seoul-Beijing relations.
Hours after the deployment, China's foreign ministry said Seoul and Washington should cancel it and withdraw the equipment, warning that the installation would further up tension in the Northeast Asian region.
"The deployment of THAAD would destroy the strategic balance and incite a further rise in tension," spokesman Geng Shuang said in a press briefing.
The U.S. move to speed up the deployment, despite incomplete construction at the former golf course, is seen as an effort to make the plan irreversible after the presidential election, in which a liberal candidate will likely be the victor. Washington has been apparently wary of the next government's possible retraction of the decision made by Park's government.
The overnight operation was somewhat contrary to public expectations as it was initially expected that it would take some time for the allies to install the system as the evaluation of its environmental impact is still ongoing. China's recent move to join the U.S. efforts to pressure the North had also raised expectation that Washington would strategically delay the deployment.
Seoul's defense ministry said the latest measure was to secure early operational capability by positioning some available parts first at the site, downplaying criticism against the sensitive timing of the deployment.
"The environmental survey and construction will still go forward normally," the ministry said, adding that the allies will put the THAAD unit into full operation by the end of this year.
Eyes are now on how the deployment will affect China's efforts, especially after the U.S.-China summit, April 6 and 7, to curb North Korean threats. Beijing recently indicated, through its state media, that it would dramatically decrease the amount of petroleum exported to North Korea if the latter pushes for a nuclear test.
Meanwhile, other presidential candidates had divergent views on the surprise installation.
Ahn Cheol-soo, the current runner-up from the People's Party, demanded the deployment proceed in accordance with domestic law under the bilateral agreement, expressing regret over the sudden action in the middle of the night.
Conservative candidates Hong Joon-pyo of the Liberty Korea Party and Yoo Seong-min of Bareun Party welcomed the deployment, urging politicians not to engage in wrangles any more.
Sim Sang-jung of the progressive Justice Party said she cannot accept the deployment, saying she will hold the defense ministry responsible.
