South Korea dismisses China warning on US missile system

S. Korea military

Seoul (AFP) - South Korea Wednesday dismissed
China's warning that the planned deployment of a
US missile defence system could damage ties,
stressing that it was to counter "growing threats"
from North Korea.
"The deployment of the Terminal High Altitude
Area Defence system (THAAD) is a measure of self-
defence against growing nuclear and missile threats
from North Korea," presidential spokesman Jeong
Yeon-Guk said.
Jeong said the issue would be "decided in accordance
with security and national interests," adding that
"China will have to recognise the point."
The remarks came after Chinese ambassador Qiu
Guohong warned Tuesday that installation of the
THAAD system on the Korean Peninsula could
"destroy" relations between Beijing and Seoul.
Qiu, in a meeting with Kim Jong-In, the leader of
opposition Minju party, also warned that it would
be "hard" to mend the ties once damaged, the party
spokesman said Tuesday.
China has repeatedly protested since Washington
and Seoul announced plans to deploy the missile
defence in the South, in response to North Korea's
recent nuclear test and rocket launch.
But Tuesday was the first time that a Chinese
diplomat or official has warned of the effect on
diplomatic ties with Seoul.
South Korea's foreign ministry summoned Qiu to
make him clarify the comment, Yonhap news agency
said, citing a ministry official.
"Qiu sincerely clarified the circumstances around the
meeting (with Kim)...and what he actually said
then," the official quoted by Yonhap said without
elaborating further.
The THAAD system fires anti-ballistic missiles to
smash into enemy missiles either inside or outside
the Earth's atmosphere during their final flight
phase.
The interceptor missiles carry no warheads, instead
relying on kinetic energy to destroy their targets.
The allies announced their intention to begin talks
on its deployment following Pyongyang's long-range
rocket launch on February 7, which was seen by the
US and its allies as a covert ballistic missile test.
South Korea's defence ministry said it expects
official talks on THAAD to begin next week.