Russia Again Voices Complaints About Deployment of THAAD to South Korea
It sounds like some in South Korea are getting tired of hearing complaints from the Chinese and Russians against the deployment of the THAAD missile defense system:
On Thursday, the Russian ambassador to South Korea called the proposed deployment of a U.S. missile defense system on the peninsula a security threat to the region, the third time in as many weeks that he has weighed in on the issue.
In an interview with Yonhap News Agency, Alexander Timonin, who served as the ambassador to North Korea until last year, said the deployment of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) on the Korean Peninsula would constitute a security threat to both Russia and the wider region.
“What concerns us is that a U.S. missile defense system could be placed in areas not far from Russia, adding to worries over THAAD’s radar system or technology,” he told Yonhap. (…….)
“Of course it has multi-purpose tasks. One of the tasks, of course, is North Korea,” Vorontsov told The Diplomat on Thursday. “But, additionally, the capability of this system allows this equipment to intercept missiles, Russian… missiles for example. So, yes, unfortunately, there are grounds for concern vis-a-vis [the] security situation of Russia… and the Chinese.” (……………..)
But some Koreans have received the Russian and Chinese objections coldly.
Song Dae-sung, a professor of political science and former brigadier general with the South Korean Air Force, said that Russia and China preventing THAAD would be the same as South Korea demanding the removal of Russian and Chinese missile placements that could target the Korean Peninsula.
“If China and Russia really hate the placement of THAAD in South Korea, they can take resolute action to ensure the destruction of weapons of mass destruction held by North Korea and a halt to their development,” the Konkuk University professor told The Diplomat late last month. “The insistence that we only consider the South Korea-China and South Korea-Russia relationships and not deploy THAAD, which is opposed by China and Russia, is an insistence that neglects the absolute value of national security.” [The Diplomat]
You can read the rest at the link, but I do find it interesting that a Russian is publicly complaining about THAAD preventing their country from shooting missiles at South Korea.
Prof. Song has a point. If Russia and China are really so concerned about the ROK acquiring U.S. anti-ballistic missile technology to defend itself, then maybe they should direct their complaints to their comrades in North Korea. I find it interesting that they’re complaining about the ROK having a missile shield, but they’re okay with NK having nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. Since both Russia and China have had beneficial relationships with the ROK, it seems a little bit odd to deny them the right to defend themselves in the event of a missile attack, regardless who/where it might come from. As for the Russians or Chinese feeling threatened by THAAD, that seems a bit petty considering that both countries have substantial nuclear arsenals while the ROK has none. If Russia and China truly are concerned for peace and stability in the region, and if they want to have their say in the affairs of Asia, then they should do something about the growing threat of North Korea. With that threat neutralized, the ROK wouldn’t need technologies like THAAD to defend itself… would it?