The U.S. Forces Korea Commander Denies for the First Time Withdrawal of THAAD Missile Defense System from South Korea
More than a month after reports surfaced that the United States might be relocating its missile defense system deployed in South Korea to the Middle East, General Xavier Brunson, Commander of U.S. Forces Korea, stated during a U.S. Senate hearing on the 21st that the U.S. has not withdrawn its THAAD missile defense system from South Korea. However, he provided no further specific details.
Shortly after the U.S. and Israel launched a large-scale military strike against Iran at the end of February, The Washington Post reported in early March that the United States might be moving its THAAD missile defense system deployed in South Korea to the Middle East. South Korea's Yonhap News Agency even released images showing parts of the THAAD system being dismantled at a site about 200 kilometers southeast of Seoul. These developments sparked speculation that the U.S. might be sacrificing its military presence in South Korea to bolster operations in the Middle East.
Although South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol expressed dissatisfaction with these rumors at the time, and South Korea’s Defense Minister stated that South Korea could still respond to threats from North Korea even if the U.S. redeployed its military capabilities, these official statements did not clearly deny the speculation about U.S. troop movements to support Middle Eastern conflicts. At the same time, North Korea has been frequently testing missiles and openly declaring its determination to expand its nuclear arsenal. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency issued a warning last week, stating that North Korea is expanding its nuclear weapons production in a "deeply alarming" manner.
General Brunson’s remarks regarding the THAAD system during the U.S. Senate hearing on the 21st marked the first public U.S. statement on the issue. However, according to a report from AFP on the 22nd in Washington, the clarification offered was relatively limited. Brunson affirmed that the U.S. had not removed its missile defense systems from South Korea, and the THAAD system remains stationed on the Korean Peninsula. He also mentioned that preparations are underway to transport ammunition to the Middle East. There is currently no confirmed information about whether this ammunition includes THAAD interceptors.
The THAAD system is regarded as a critical element for South Korea’s defense against missile threats from North Korea. It is capable of intercepting and destroying medium- and short-range missiles before they reach their targets.
Source: rfi
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1863204331030729/
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