South Korea and the United States have agreed to begin negotiations for the "earliest possible" deployment of an advanced American air defense system on South Korean soil to counter North Korea's emerging missile threats, Yonhap quoted the allies as saying Sunday.

The announcement on the controversial defense system, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, was made just hours after North Korea launched a long-range missile as part of its continual push to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles.

A month earlier, Pyongyang conducted its fourth nuclear test in defiance of relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions that ban the communist country from nuclear and ballistic missile activity.

"The U.S. and South Korea have decided to start an official discussion on the possibility of U.S. Forces Korea's deployment of THAAD as part of measures to upgrade the South Korea-U.S. alliance's missile defense posture against North Korea's advancing threats," Yoo Jeh-seung, deputy minister for policy, said.

Lt. Gen. Thomas Vandal, the commander of USFK's Eighth Army, said in the joint briefing session that the decision was made upon USFK Commander Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti's recommendation, adding that "it is time to move forward on the issue."

"We have also seen growing support of this voice in the Republic of Korea on the issue of THAAD recently," Vandal noted.

The latest long-range ballistic missile launch and nuclear test highlights the serious nuclear, weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile threats North Korea poses to the peace and stability of South Korea and the entire Asia-Pacific region, the allies said in their joint statement on the talks.

The goal of the formal consultations is to see if it's possible to deploy and operate THAAD on the Korean Peninsula "at the earliest possible date," according to the joint statement.

Even if THAAD was brought into South Korea, it would have almost no relevance to China's national security, a high-ranking defense official said in a background briefing.

One of the most salient obstacles South Korea is facing in the deployment is China, by far its biggest trade partner, which strongly protests that the deployment could put China within the range of the American defense system.

Russia is also a strong opponent of the deployment plan.

"The THAAD to be operated by the USFK is not meant to defend the U.S. mainland," the official said, concerning such worries.

Foreign affairs officials said South Korea informed China and Russia of the latest alliance decision ahead of the official announcement on Sunday.

"If the THAAD system were deployed to the Korean Peninsula, it would be focused solely on North Korea and contribute to a layered missile defense that would enhance the alliance's existing missile defense capabilities against potential North Korean missile threats," the joint South Korea-U.S. statement also said.

If a final decision is made on the deployment, South Korea will provide the land and facility for the operation while the USFK will shoulder the financial costs to deploy and maintain the THAAD system.

It would take up to 1.5 trillion won to purchase one battery for THAAD, which is composed of a control tower, one fire control radar, six launchers and 48 interceptor missiles, according to the defense official.

One THAAD battery is capable of shielding one second or two-thirds of the South Korean territory from North Korean short- to medium-range missiles, he added.

"North Korea continues to develop their nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, and it is the responsibility of our alliance to maintain a strong defense against those threats," Scaparrotti said in the joint statement. "THAAD would add an important capability in a layered and effective missile defense," the four-star general said.

Source: MENA