Over the past months - and particularly in the weeks since the South Korean government
announced its decision to deploy a sophisticated U.S. missile defense system to the southern
part of this country, there have been a lot of talk surrounding that decision.
Not only within this country but all over the world -- with foreign media publishing
articles and commentaries showing great interest with keywords like THAAD, South Korea, U.S.,
and China.
But, what's missing and at at the core of all this... is North Korea's nuclear threat.
Tonight, we take an in-depth analysis on what the heated debate is all about... but, first
let's begin with the most basic question:
What is THAAD?
THAAD stands for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense.
It's a missile defense system designed to intercept short and medium-range ballistic
missiles the kind North Korea launches every now and then - at an altitude beyond what
the current PAC-3 system can reach... of up to 150 kilometers.
Each THAAD system is composed of three major components: The Radar, the command and control
center, and the missile launcher.
So, in a scenario of North Korea launching a missile toward South Korea, the battery's
RADAR will detect, the launcher launch a missile... and then, destroy the enemy missile before
it hits the ground.
So, how does China fit in the picture?
The reason why China so strongly opposes the deployment of THAAD to South Korea is the
radar component of the system.
This is the radar capability of what's to be deployed here - a terminal-based radar.
Its effective range - a 600 kilometer radius... with a detection range of 8-9 hundred kilometers
at most --South Korea and the U.S., citing this, have repeatedly said Seoul's THAAD deployment
is purely defensive of nature against North Korea's nuclear threats.
" To protect our citizens and U.S. Forces Korea from North Korea's weapons of mass destruction
and ballistic missiles, the two allies have decided to deploy THAAD to the Korean Peninsula."
Two years since the U.S. Forces Korea first proposed the idea and five months since Seoul
and Washington began formal negotiations...
the two sides finally announced the decision to deploy an advanced U.S. missile defense
system in South Korea.
"Deploying THAAD to the Korean peninsula will improve our missile defense posture which
is a critical aspect of our defense strategy."
It came on the heels of a fourth nuclear test by North Korea in January followed by a series
of missiles launches in subsequent months.
Since then the deployment of THAAD to the Korean peninsula has been a hot potato both
IN AND OUTSIDE of this country.
So, DOES South Korea need THAAD?
"The main concept of ballistic missile defense is multi-layered defense, they call it,..
because one weapon or equipment cannot perfectly destroy incoming missiles.
But as you know, we are in the danger of North Korean nuclear attack.
We cannot miss any nuclear missiles.
So we need to increase the destruction rate to 100%.
So we need another layer of ballistic missile defense."
Then, why does the U.S. want its THAAD battery in South Korea?
First and foremost, to defend U.S. forces in South Korea.
"The problem we have is that North Korea has about a thousand ballistic missiles that they
can fire at South Korea.
And it appears to have probably now between 30-50 nuclear weapons, many of which may well
be deployable on a ballistic missile.
we're trying to do both, protect our people, and also protect South Korean people, both
against an invasion of the North and against North Koreans' missiles."
Of course, there are those who support the decision and there are those who oppose the
deployment of THAAD within this country.
In the most recent poll taken among South Korean adults of 19 years old and older, however...
more than half said they were in favor of THAAD coming to South Korea.
While South Korea stands firm that the deployment of THAAD is solely to protect the nation and
the people from North Korean threats, China, and to a lesser extent, Russia strongly opposes
Seoul's decision.
Are such fears of THAAD by China justified?
" China is number three nuclear weapons state in the world.
It has over 60 satellites looking down on South Korea every day and it has numerous
nuclear weapons that can destroy anytime and all neighboring state.
Numerous missiles...
large scale radar covering the entire Korean peninsula...
So, the fact that China is arguing that this is hurting their security, this is a non-sensical
argument."
" China deployed a missile system called the HQ19, which is almost identical to THAAD.
It's there to defend China against North Korean missiles.
So, China already has a THAAD-like system that they have deployed for years."
Experts say the real reason behind China's strong opposition does not have much to do
with South Korea.
"Chinese policymakers know what they are arguing is illogical.
Unfortunately, there are structural reasons why China argues like that.
China is playing a game against the United States."
"South Korea has the right to do so.
A sovereign state has the right and the duty to do everything that is necessary to protect
itself, but it shouldn't expect its neighbors also sovereign states to be happy.
Because they don't care about their interests of other states, they care about their own
interests.
And in this particular case, Chinese aren't going to be sympathetic."
Still many experts say... for China it may be a structural decision...
but for South Korea, it's a matter of life and death.
They say the situation calls for the highest-level of diplomacy because...
"Do you have any other reliable means to protect our country and people from North Korea's
nuclear and missile threats?"
Therefore, it's critical for China to realize that only through a more flexible approach
based on reality rather than ideology can this issue be resolved.
Early next week, South Korean president travels to Russia and China -- she's set for a one-on-one
with Russian President Vladimir Putin... in China, we have no word as of yet on whether
the leaders of Seoul and Beijing will sit down for discussions.
How those meetings will progress and what MAY or should ideally come out of them, our
Oh Jung-hee takes a closer look.