Korea, US started THAAD talks Feb. 7

[bananas]

Source: Korea Times

Seoul, Beijing strife deepening

South Korea and the United States started talks regarding possible deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery on the Korean Peninsula, Feb. 7, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Thursday.

However, the ministry said that discussions on how to operate the allies' Joint Working Group (JWG), which will iron out details regarding deployment, are still ongoing, contradicting an earlier comment from the U.S. Department of Defense that claimed the JWG had already met.

The MND said early this week that the first meeting of the JWG is expected to take place this week or next.

It also reaffirmed that making a decision on whether to host a THAAD battery is South Korea's sovereign right, referring to objections regarding the issue voiced by China.

<snip>

Read more: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/02/116_198406.html

[Duckhunter935]

1. THAAD is a total defensive system

No offensive capability. The interceptor does not even carry explosives. Why should they have an issue with it.

[bananas]

2. Removes deterrent, creates incentive for first strike, makes situation less stable. nt

[Duckhunter935]

3. and North Korea

Makes it more stable? The south should be able to respond to them. It's not like they are doing it by themselves in a vacuum.

[bananas]

4. Do some reading on the ABM Treaty between the US and USSR. nt

[Duckhunter935]

5. not against the USSR

Do some reading of the Budapest memorandum

[davidpdx]

7. I agree

Especially since I live close to the border. I can drive about 40 minutes and be at the checkpoint to go into the DMZ (not that they'd let me in, but I could get close).

[pampango]

6. Talks about missile defense are a good diplomatic response, preferable to a strongly worded letter.

Doing nothing (public condemnation, strongly worded letters) does nothing to dissuade Kim and a military response would be terrible.

Kim needs atomic weapons and the means to deliver them both to strengthen his internal hold on power and to prevent the threat of international intervention. Atomic weapons seem to be the dictators' weapon of choice now to ensure a long reign ending in a peaceful death from old age.

Actually deploying a missile defense system would be destabilizing to China and Russia though neither of them have much love lost for Kim. China knows Kim is crazy but does not want NK to collapse and have SK and the US army right on its border.

[daleo]

8. China could see this as a threat

And logically so. What would the U.S. say, if China put an ABM system 100 km from the U.S. border?

[GummyBearz]

10. I think we'd shrug our shoulders

Not like the chinese system would work anyway

[iandhr]

9. Maybe talking about the potential deployment...

... of THADD is for leverage on China. China strongly opposes this. Maybe the message is hey China if you don't want the system deployed you have to something to rein NK in.