THAAD
is an acronym for the U.S.-made Terminal High Altitude Area Defense
system, which can target short, medium and intermediate ballistic
missiles in flight.
The North
Korean launch of the carrier rocket Kwangmyongsong Sunday, carrying
Earth Observation satellite Kwangmyongsong-4, was a "strategic
provocation," said Yoo Jeh-seung, head of Defense Planning, South Korean
Defense Ministry.
"The
Republic of Korea and the U.S. assesses that North Korea's nuclear test
and its long-range missile test is a severe threat against peace and
stability of Republic of Korea and Asia Pacific Region," Yoo said.
"In
response to the increasing North Korea's threat, ROK and the U.S. will
officially discuss deploying THAAD to U.S. Forces in Korea to improve
its missile defense posture," he added.
Veiled missile test?
In a
statement, Pyongyang said the satellite was fitted with "measuring
apparatuses and telecommunications apparatuses needed for observing the
earth." It said the launch was part of its "five-year program for
national aerospace development."
However, it was viewed by other nations, such as Japan and South Korea, as a front for a ballistic missile test, especially coming on the heels of North Korea's purported hydrogen bomb test last month.
"North
Korea continues to develop their nuclear weapons and ballistic missile
programs, and it is the responsibility of our Alliance to maintain a
strong defense against those threats," said Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti,
Combined Forces Command, U.S. Forces Korea commander.
"THAAD can add an important capability in a layered and effective missile defense."
China
has previously been outspoken in opposing deployment of the system,
which it is worried could be used against its own launch systems.
"If
the THAAD system were deployed to the Korean Peninsula, it would be
focused solely on North Korea and contribute to a layered missile
defense that would enhance the Alliance's existing missile defense
capabilities against potential North Korean missile threats," U.S.
Forces Korea said in a press statement released Sunday.