The probe could potentially jeopardize a major military project designed to intercept North Korean missiles.
South Korea’s new President Moon Jae-in ordered a probe into the U. S.-backed THAAD missile defense system on Tuesday, potentially jeopardizing a major military project designed to intercept North Korean missiles.
In March, Washington and Seoul deployed the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, antiballistic missile system in the county of Seongju, about 180 miles from Seoul. A fully equipped THAAD battery includes six to nine launchers — massive, boxy trucks that carry and fire missiles, in this case designed to intercept North Korean projectiles midflight. The U. S. publicly deployed two.
Yet Moon was “shocked” Tuesday to learn that four additional launchers had been deployed, presidential spokesman Yoon Young-chan told a media briefing, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency. The country’s defense ministry had not informed Moon of the deployment, according to Yonhap.
Moon “called Defense Minister Han Min-koo to confirm, ” Yonhap reported. “Han apparently confirmed.”
The reasons for the mixup remain unclear. Neither the U. S. nor South Korean military has publicly commented.
“President Moon ordered to find out how the four additional rocket launchers were brought into the country, who made such a decision, why this has not been disclosed to the people and why this has not been reported to the new administration even to date, ” Yoon said, according to the agency.
THAAD’s deployment was overseen by the country’s conservative former President Park Geun-hye, who was ousted in March after months of peaceful protests. South Koreans elected Moon, a liberal, on May 9; he was inaugurated one day later. He did not get a customary two-month transition period, and is still working with Cabinet members that his predecessor appointed.
The system has stirred controversy, both at home and abroad. Moon has criticized Park for failing to get a parliamentary approval for THAAD — she approved it in 2016, after a North Korean nuclear test — and has not sought parliamentary approval himself.
