U.S. says talks underway on plans to deploy THAAD missile defense system to S. K

Washington says a U.S.-designed missile defense system, known as the THADD, may be located in South Korea. But that idea conflicts with what Seoul′s military has been saying,... leaving the two allies at odds. Connie Kim reports. A top U.S. defense official has confirmed Washington is mulling over plans to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD missile defense battery to a location in the South. Speaking at a forum organized by the Council on Foreign Relations on U.S policy in Asia, Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Work said Washington and Seoul are discussing the option to deter any North Korean nuclear provocations. "We are considering very carefully whether or not to put a THAAD in South Korea we are doing sight surveys we are working with the government of South Korea to determine whether that is the right thing." The so-called THAAD missile defense system is a key part of the U.S. missile defense system that can strike down medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles in mid-air. The U.S. official underscored that the deployment, while complicated to set up, will become an important part of regional defense. He also noted that Washington is well aware of the possible backlash involved in deploying the system in South Korea. "We have emphasized to both China and to Russia that these are not strategic anti-ballistic missiles that they are essentially designed to address regional threats." The comments out of Washington are slightly at odds with what South Korea has been saying on the issue. Seoul′s National Security Office said last month that there were no agreements in place on bringing in the U.S. system. The potential deployment has some worried in Seoul that the move could be Washington′s attempt to get other Asian allies to join its missile defense system. South Korea′s defense ministry has previously said that the South Korean military is developing its own low-altitude missile defenses that can intercept North Korean missiles. Connie Kim, Arirang News.