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Former US defense chief calls for THAAD deployment to S. Korea

January 12, 2016

WASHINGTON (Yonhap) — Former U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen has called for deploying the THAAD missile defense system to South Korea and Japan in response to North Korea’s nuclear test.

“I would hope also that we would consider and have the South Koreans and the Japanese consider having THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) on their territory,” Cohen said at a U.S.-China defense forum on Monday.

Cohen said he’s aware of China’s opposition to THAAD, but added, “Nonetheless, this is something that is important to us and to our allies.”

It is no secret that the U.S. also wants to deploy a THAAD unit to South Korea, where some 28,500 American troops are stationed, to better defend against ever-growing threats from North Korea’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs.

But the issue has become one of the most sensitive for South Korea because China sees a potential THAAD deployment as a threat to their security interests and have increased pressure on Seoul to reject such a deployment.

Seoul and Washington have maintained they have never held any formal consultations on the issue.

Last week, Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said the U.S. should work with South Korea to deploy missile defense systems, including THAAD, on the peninsula.

But White House press secretary Josh Earnest also said last week that there have been no discussions or consultations with the South Koreans about the deployment of a THAAD battery.