SEOUL: South Korea and the United States on Thursday (Feb 2) agreed to push through with the deployment of a US missile defence system strongly opposed by China, the prime minister said.
Hwang Kyo-ahn and US Defence Secretary James Mattis confirmed that the two allies will go ahead with the installation of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system in the South this year as planned, the prime minister’s office said.
Mattis arrived on Thursday in South Korea on the first leg of a trip that also includes Japan, two key allies rattled by US President Donald Trump’s ascent to power.
It is the first overseas tour by a senior official in Trump’s administration as concerns rise about the direction of American policy in the region under the protectionist and fiery leader.
On the campaign trail, Trump threatened to withdraw US forces from the two countries if they do not step up their financial support. Some 28,500 US troops are based in South Korea and 47,000 in Japan.
The rhetoric has raised concerns in both Seoul and Tokyo, and in a statement this week South Korea’s defence ministry said it hoped Mattis’ trip would be «an opportunity for the Trump administration to maintain and strengthen US commitment» to their alliance.
«President Trump … wanted me to make a very clear statement about the priority that we place on this alliance between our two allies», Mattis said at the start of his talks with Hwang, who serves as the South’s acting leader following the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye in December over corruption charges.
