South Korea is edging closer to the long-term deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile defense system, a controversial move that threatens to stoke tensions with China and North Korea.
This month, Jane’s reported that South Korea’s Ministry of Environment (MOE) had completed an environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the US Army’s THAAD temporarily deployed at Seongju, 215 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
“As the MOE and the MND have completed the environmental impact assessment of Seongju base in cooperation, we will closely cooperate with the US to faithfully reflect the consultation opinions and proceed with the project,” said the MND in a statement cited by Janes.
THAAD’s deployment in South Korea generated considerable controversy in 2017, with then-president Moon Jae-in accusing the MND of failing to report the system’s arrival in the country. There were also domestic complaints of a lack of an EIA assessment and backlash from locals fearing high electromagnetic wave (EMW) exposure.
Meanwhile, China complained that the system could neutralize its nuclear deterrent and responded with a series of measures to punish Seoul. Tourism dropped by about 40% and many Korean consumer goods and cultural products were boycotted inside China
Source : Asia Times
