(3rd LD) U.S. now says it has not yet launched official THAAD talks with S. Korea
(3rd LD) U.S. now says it has not yet launched official THAAD talks with S. Korea
2016/02/18 15:05
(ATTN: UPDATES with Seoul's reaction in last 7 paras)
By Chang Jae-soon
WASHINGTON/SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- Reversing itself, the U.S. Defense Department said Wednesday that it has not yet launched official talks about the possible deployment of the U.S. THAAD missile defense system to the Asian ally.
A Pentagon spokesman, Cmdr. Bill Urban, told Yonhap News Agency earlier in the day that a joint working group the two countries established to discuss the THAAD issue had met and consultations are ongoing, confirming that the two sides have launched formal consultations on the matter.
But the spokesman later retracted his statement, citing miscommunication with U.S. Forces Korea.
"The (joint working group) has not met and is sorting out details prior to consultations. The ROK-U.S. alliance is working 'expeditiously but meticulously' through those details, so no timeline has been established," Urban said.
Shortly after North Korea's Feb. 7 missile launch, South Korea and the U.S. jointly announced they would begin official discussions on the possible placement of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system in South Korea.
That ended more than a year of soul-searching by Seoul over how to deal with the issue amid Washington's desire to deploy the system and China's intense opposition to it. The North's twin provocations of its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6 and then a missile test a month later gave Seoul justification for the decision.
China has claimed THAAD could be used against it, despite repeated assurances from Washington that the system is aimed only at deterring North Korean threats. Beijing expressed regret after the South and the U.S. announced the decision to hold THAAD talks.
This week, China's Executive Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui reiterated opposition to the THAAD deployment.
Responding to China's opposition, Seoul's Defense Ministry spokesman said the country will put top priority on the right to self-defense in making a decision on the issue.
"We will approach this issue and make a decision from the perspective of the right to self-defense," Moon Sang-gyun said in a briefing Thursday, virtually dismissing China's resistance.
"Measures to protect people's life and property from North Korea's increasing nuclear and missile threats are more important than anything else," he said.
Speaking on the THAAD deployment front, Defense Minister Han Min-kook said the allies will select the location of the THAAD battery in consideration of the safety of South Koreans as well as the environment.
"The site to deploy THAAD will be determined through both governments' approval after the joint working group makes relevant recommendations," Han was quoted by ruling Saenuri Party lawmaker Kim Sung-chan as saying during a meeting with the ruling party lawmakers.
"The site for deployment will be selected so that it could effectively defend South Korea from North Korea's nuclear threats and shut out any impact on the safety of the people and the environment," he added.
The allies are currently in the process of mapping out the terms of reference on the governing of the joint working group and official THAAD negotiations will kick off after the joint group sets sail, according to the ministry.
jschang@yna.co.kr
(3rd LD) U.S. now says it has not yet launched official THAAD talks with S. Korea
2016/02/18 15:05
(ATTN: UPDATES with Seoul's reaction in last 7 paras)
By Chang Jae-soon
WASHINGTON/SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- Reversing itself, the U.S. Defense Department said Wednesday that it has not yet launched official talks about the possible deployment of the U.S. THAAD missile defense system to the Asian ally.
A Pentagon spokesman, Cmdr. Bill Urban, told Yonhap News Agency earlier in the day that a joint working group the two countries established to discuss the THAAD issue had met and consultations are ongoing, confirming that the two sides have launched formal consultations on the matter.
But the spokesman later retracted his statement, citing miscommunication with U.S. Forces Korea.
"The (joint working group) has not met and is sorting out details prior to consultations. The ROK-U.S. alliance is working 'expeditiously but meticulously' through those details, so no timeline has been established," Urban said.
Shortly after North Korea's Feb. 7 missile launch, South Korea and the U.S. jointly announced they would begin official discussions on the possible placement of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system in South Korea.
That ended more than a year of soul-searching by Seoul over how to deal with the issue amid Washington's desire to deploy the system and China's intense opposition to it. The North's twin provocations of its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6 and then a missile test a month later gave Seoul justification for the decision.
China has claimed THAAD could be used against it, despite repeated assurances from Washington that the system is aimed only at deterring North Korean threats. Beijing expressed regret after the South and the U.S. announced the decision to hold THAAD talks.
This week, China's Executive Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui reiterated opposition to the THAAD deployment.
Responding to China's opposition, Seoul's Defense Ministry spokesman said the country will put top priority on the right to self-defense in making a decision on the issue.
"We will approach this issue and make a decision from the perspective of the right to self-defense," Moon Sang-gyun said in a briefing Thursday, virtually dismissing China's resistance.
"Measures to protect people's life and property from North Korea's increasing nuclear and missile threats are more important than anything else," he said.
Speaking on the THAAD deployment front, Defense Minister Han Min-kook said the allies will select the location of the THAAD battery in consideration of the safety of South Koreans as well as the environment.
"The site to deploy THAAD will be determined through both governments' approval after the joint working group makes relevant recommendations," Han was quoted by ruling Saenuri Party lawmaker Kim Sung-chan as saying during a meeting with the ruling party lawmakers.
"The site for deployment will be selected so that it could effectively defend South Korea from North Korea's nuclear threats and shut out any impact on the safety of the people and the environment," he added.
The allies are currently in the process of mapping out the terms of reference on the governing of the joint working group and official THAAD negotiations will kick off after the joint group sets sail, according to the ministry.
jschang@yna.co.kr