US: Talk on advanced missile defense system in South Korea premature

The US believes it is "premature" to talk about a possible deployment of its advanced missile defense system on South Korean soil as no decisions have been made, Washington's No. 2 diplomat said Monday, according to the Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency. "Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) would be aimed at addressing threats posed by North Korea, but it is premature to talk about launching the system on Korean soil for now," US Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken was quoted as telling reporters in the South Korean capital.
"There is no decision on THAAD, and there are no active discussions on THAAD," Blinken said after his meeting with South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yong to discuss North Korea's nuclear weapons program and the Seoul-Washington alliance. "This is all premature because there is no decision on it, and if we are to move forward, we'll be in a full consultation with the government here." The US is considering deploying THAAD, an integral part of its missile defense system, to South Korea, citing evolving threats from North Korea. THAAD is designed to shoot down short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles at a higher altitude in their terminal phase using a hit-to-kill method. But China has recently voiced opposition against such a possible deployment.
Last week, Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan expressed concern over the possible THAAD deployment. China and Russia view it as a threat to their security, and critics also say it is part of a broader US attempt to get the Asian ally to join its missile-defense system and could spark tensions with the neighbors, the report added.