South Korean President Moon Jae-in has made no secret of his displeasure at the US having made a deal with his lame duck predecessor on the deployment of the THAAD anti-missile system, and today made a move to temporarily suspend the installation of the deployed components.
The US had initially deployed two THAAD launchers under the deal, and President Moon was furious when it was discovered the US had sent another four launchers to the site without telling him about it first. He is now blocking installation, pending an environmental assessment.
The move is in keeping with Moon’s campaign, during which he insisted that South Korea had to feel free to say no to the Americans sometimes. He is not ordering the two installed launchers removed yet, however, but even this installation delay, which might take upwards of a year, is liable to rile the US, which isn’t used to being told no.
The US has presented the deployments as meant to counter the “North Korean threat,” but many South Koreans, particularly those in the area where THAAD is being deployed, fear that the presence of THAAD will itself make the site a target for potential North Korean strikes in the event of a war.
Certainly a target for Chinese strikes in the event of a US-China clash.
Way to go Moon! I’d paint F**K YOU! on every missile in all caps before sending them back. It’s the wrath of the han and it’s coming back around again.
I think we need to be tell this little Puke President we install the missles now or we pull ALL of our military resources, men and equipment, out of Korea and let them handle their own problems..
I think that you have some strange definition of “we.”
We, The People of America. I didn’t have a problem with what I said but you must have missed your morning coffee or just like to be contrary..
Why ever do you think that after evicting Japanese overlordship and enduring the devastation of the Korean War do you think that the South Korean government would tolerate being an abject servant to the US government.
They already are, without the US they’re at the mercy of the NK and China..
The US is certainly the tail that wags the South Korean dog. I believe that South Korea certainly receives a benefit from hosting US troops in excess of what they reportedly pay the US.
As a US citizen I think that taxpayers foot the cost of deployment in South Korea.
I believe that you and I would be surprised how well South Korea would do if the US military minded to protecting the actual land and people of the US. South Korea could ally with Russia if it so chose, Japan, China or India. I know, China. I don’t think the China of today is the same as the China of yesteryear. Frankly the US involvement prevents normal diplomatic relations that would otherwise occur.