South Korea appears to he electing a liberal leader for the 1st time in a decade —
a change with serious implications for Trump
Polls closed in South Korea on Tuesday and exit polls suggested the nation had opted by a significant margin for a liberal candidate who could completely alter the long-time strategy of taking a hard line against belligerent neighbor Kim Jong Un to the north.
Official poll results were to be announced later Tuesday, but the exit polling showed a landslide for Moon Jae-in.
CBS News correspondent Adriana Diaz reports there were stark differences between Moon and his competitors on how to contain the growing North Korea threat, and what to do about THAAD, a controversial missile defense system deployed by the U. S. in South Korea.
If Moon’s win is confirmed in the official results, the liberal who favors engagement with Pyongyang could lead the country for the first time in nearly a decade.
Moon could also remove THAAD, the U. S. missile defense system deployed to intercept potential short- to medium-range North Korean missiles. The system was rushed in by the U. S. military just weeks ago, but was met by angry protesters concerned it would only escalate tensions with the North, and with China and Russia. On the road that leads to one THAAD installation, CBS News was stopped at a checkpoint, beyond which only military and police vehicles are permitted.
Protesters have also come as close as they can get to the anti-missile system to show their opposition. Buddhist demonstrators have been camped out at the site for 50 days, praying for THAAD’s removal. At a makeshift camp down the road, demonstrators used their bodies to try and stop traffic.
“We want to make sure this military vehicle isn’t carrying any supplies for THAAD, ” one man told us. They want THAAD out — despite repeated U. S. assurances it’s here for their benefit.
“THAAD is here to protect South Korea, why do you oppose it?” Diaz asked.
“The only reason America deployed THAAD here is to dominate Asia, ” another man said. “America’s presence here only raises the threat of war.”
THAAD’s removal would deal a blow to America’s military influence in South Korea — and a victory to China — which fears THAAD’s strong radar system might be used by the U. S. to spy on China.
The official winner of the South Korean election will take office first thing Wednesday morning.
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