South Korea: Investigation Into The Deployment Of Four Missile Launchers Of The THAAD

An American military vehicle rides amidst a crowd hostile to the THAAD in Seongju on April 26, 2017

In South Korea, the controversy over the deployment of an American missile intercept system has been revived. South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who was elected three weeks ago, accuses his own defense ministry of deliberately hiding the arrival of four additional launchers belonging to the shield called THAAD. Moon Jae-in ordered the opening of an investigation.

The South Korean president jumped to the ceiling on hearing the news, said the daily Joongang Ilbo: four missile launchers of the American shield THAAD were deployed on South Korean territory without being informed.

Two first launchers had already been installed at the end of April, that is to say, less than two weeks before the elections. Moon Jae-in then criticized this precipitous deployment of a system that provoked strong local resistance and sparked China's fury. Beijing considers itself targeted and multiplies since the economic retaliation measures aimed at South Korea.

A very divided South Korean opinion on the subject

US President Donald Trump also threw oil on the fire asking the South Koreans to pay the bill: a billion dollars. Faced with this new controversy, the Pentagon assures that the installation of its system had been "  very transparent  ".

While THAAD is deemed necessary by some to cope with the increase in North Korean missile launches, others fear an arms race. South Korean opinion is very divided on the subject, a division that obviously manifests itself within the government.