Current State of South Korean THAAD and Diagnosis of the Controversy with China

Cho Kyung Hwan 

(kwhan80cho@gmail.com) 

Policy Planning Staff, 

Department of State 

English Abstract

The age-old controversy over the deployment of the THAAD system of the U.S. Forces Korea in South Korea is expected to rekindle during the South Korean presidential campaign. China still doubts the U.S. use of restraints against China. South Korean proponents of the ROK-U.S. alliance acknowledge that China widens the gap between the ROK-U.S. alliance and are wary of growing anti-U.S. and anti-union theories in South Korea. 

Simply by occasionally raising questions, China has influenced South Korea’s security policy. China constantly gets its mission accomplished to influence South Korean policy. It must be noted that alliance is the basic axis of national security and that South Korea must communicate with China in terms of principles. China, a strategic partner, should not be stirred with the deployment of the THAAD, but South Korea should not completely ignore China. Meanwhile, North Korea’s nuclear missiles pose a realistic threat, and missile defense systems are vital to security. A balance between security and stability of the Korean Peninsula is urgently needed.