North Korea’s late-night missile test has forced the South’s pro-rapprochement President, Mr Moon Jae In, to harden his stance by ordering additional launchers to be deployed for a controversial American anti-missile shield..
North Korea’s late-night missile test has forced the South’s pro-rapprochement President, Mr Moon Jae In, to harden his stance by ordering additional launchers to be deployed for a controversial American anti-missile shield.
South Korea and the United States have boosted military deterrence against the North, and Seoul is seeking to develop a more powerful missile.
Mr Moon, in a national security meeting held an hour after the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch was detected late on Friday, called for the deployment of stalled launchers of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (Thaad) system.
Only two of six launchers have been installed even though the US wants Thaad to be operational as soon as possible. The delayed deployment, pending an environmental review, was meant to appease China, which opposes Thaad.
The situation puts Mr Moon in a dilemma, with analysts saying his credibility is at stake if he keeps using Thaad as a bargaining chip.
Dr Bong Young Shik of Yonsei University’s Institute for North Korean Studies said Mr Moon’s decision to deploy the rest of the launchers while insisting on an environmental review is self-contradictory.
