SK Defense Chief Welcomes Suggestions for New THAAD Site
On August 17, the Defense Ministry said that the government will consider another site for the projected deployment of an advanced missile defense systems if Seongju residents can agree and suggest another option for the venue.
Yonhap News reported that Defense Chief Han Min Koo said that South Korea is open to suggestions for another site during a closed-door meeting with representatives from Seongju, the site which has been chosen to host the Terminal High Altitude Defense (THAAD) system.
In a statement, the Ministry of National Defense said, "The Defense Minister said the government will give consideration to an alternative site if the local residents reach an understanding on a new location."
However, the Defense Minister explained that although they will welcome recommendations for a potential site for the THAAD deployment, this can only be made possible if the Seongju residents reach a full consensus.
He said that Seonsan-ri in Seongju is still the "most optimal" venue because of its good location to defend against nuclear and missile threats from the neighboring North Korea. Also, he apologized because the selection process regarding the site did not provide an explanation about the deployment to the residents.
Han stated, "The decision to install a THAAD battery here is purely a self-defense measure taken to protect South Koreans."
In response to what the Defense Minister said, Lee Jae Bok, who represents the 50,000 Seongju residents, asked Han to clarify the site selection process and to give clear answers related to the system's necessity, safety measures, and effectiveness.
Han said that there will be an in-depth survey and analysis prior to the installation of the system in 2017.
Last month, South Korea and the United States announced their joint project to install a THAAD battery in South Korea.
The decision was met with criticism especially from the Seongju residents claiming that the "X-band" radar of the THAAD system could endanger the health condition of the people who live nearby the site. They are also skeptical even though particular test results showed that the radar waves of the system do not have any serious health effect.
