THAAD battery from Texas to be deployed in Seongju: sources
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U.S. to push for immediate Thaad deployment
http://www.todayonline.com/world/asia/us-push-immediate-thaad-deployment
The United States will speed up deployment of an anti-missile system to South Korea given the pace of North Korea’s missile tests, and it will be stationed there “as soon as possible”, the top US diplomat for East Asia said early yesterday.
Mr Daniel Russel, assistant secretary of state for East Asia, also told a congressional hearing that the US was in discussions with international partners including the European Union (EU), to deny North Korea access to international banking infrastructure after its recent nuclear and missile tests.
Mr Russel told the House sub-committee for Asia that the timing of the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (Thaad) system was a Pentagon matter.
But he added: “Given the accelerating pace of North Korea’s missile tests, we intend to deploy on an accelerated basis. I would say as soon as possible.”
Asked if the deployment was a “done deal”, Mr Russel replied: “Yes.”
A Pentagon spokesman, Commander Gary Ross, said the Thaad would be deployed “as soon as feasible”, but declined to give a specific timeline.
Mr Russel told Reuters last week that Thaad deployment was not negotiable as part of efforts to agree on new United Nations (UN) sanctions on North Korea after its fifth nuclear test on Sept 9.
China, whose full backing is widely seen as crucial for sanctions on North Korea to be effective, is strongly opposed to Thaad, and some experts have argued it should be part of talks on new UN measures.
Mr Russel said China shared concerns about North Korea’s nuclear programme and there had been a vast improvement in cooperation on sanctions, even though there was “an awful lot more” Beijing needed to do to tighten them.
He said there had been “a very constructive and honest candid set of ongoing conversations” with China on new sanctions and added: “I hope you will see, as one of the products of that, real headway in the discussions.”
Asked if consideration was being given to restrict Pyongyang’s access to banking transaction services, such as the Swift system, Mr Russel replied: “We are in discussions with our partners, including the EU, about tightening the application of sanctions and pressure, including and particularly to deny North Korea access to the international banking infrastructure.”
http://www.todayonline.com/world/asia/us-push-immediate-thaad-deployment
The United States will speed up deployment of an anti-missile system to South Korea given the pace of North Korea’s missile tests, and it will be stationed there “as soon as possible”, the top US diplomat for East Asia said early yesterday.
Mr Daniel Russel, assistant secretary of state for East Asia, also told a congressional hearing that the US was in discussions with international partners including the European Union (EU), to deny North Korea access to international banking infrastructure after its recent nuclear and missile tests.
Mr Russel told the House sub-committee for Asia that the timing of the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (Thaad) system was a Pentagon matter.
But he added: “Given the accelerating pace of North Korea’s missile tests, we intend to deploy on an accelerated basis. I would say as soon as possible.”
Asked if the deployment was a “done deal”, Mr Russel replied: “Yes.”
A Pentagon spokesman, Commander Gary Ross, said the Thaad would be deployed “as soon as feasible”, but declined to give a specific timeline.
Mr Russel told Reuters last week that Thaad deployment was not negotiable as part of efforts to agree on new United Nations (UN) sanctions on North Korea after its fifth nuclear test on Sept 9.
China, whose full backing is widely seen as crucial for sanctions on North Korea to be effective, is strongly opposed to Thaad, and some experts have argued it should be part of talks on new UN measures.
Mr Russel said China shared concerns about North Korea’s nuclear programme and there had been a vast improvement in cooperation on sanctions, even though there was “an awful lot more” Beijing needed to do to tighten them.
He said there had been “a very constructive and honest candid set of ongoing conversations” with China on new sanctions and added: “I hope you will see, as one of the products of that, real headway in the discussions.”
Asked if consideration was being given to restrict Pyongyang’s access to banking transaction services, such as the Swift system, Mr Russel replied: “We are in discussions with our partners, including the EU, about tightening the application of sanctions and pressure, including and particularly to deny North Korea access to the international banking infrastructure.”
