There should be no more change for THAAD site

The Ministry of National Defense announced Friday that the new deployment site for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) was finalized as the Lotte Skyhill Seongju Country Club, a golf course in Seongju Country, North Gyeongsang Province. “After assessing the three possible sites including Mt. Yeomsok, Mt. Kkachi, and Mt. Dalma for THAAD as requested by the provincial government considering the desire of residents, we concluded that Mt. Dalma, where the Lotte golf course is located, is the optimal place that meets the land availability criteria,” the ministry said.

The ministry changed its decision in 79 days without an apology. Previously the ministry hastily announced the Seongsan anti-aircraft missile base as the best site for THAAD without reviewing basic facilities, size of land, and number of residents. However, the ministry began to review the third site right after President Park Geun-hye promised to eval‎uate and inspect a new place for THAAD. Despite the incompetence and lethargy the ministry showed this time, it is highly likely that a similar situation may arise again. In other words, the decision on weapon deployment site, an issue of national security that should precede over all government policies, has shifted due to the public opinion.

It does not mean that THAAD deployment does not guarantee safety of our people from North Korean missiles. However, most of the people are well aware of that the deployment is needed for the safety of people. Minjoo Party Chairman Choo Mi-ae, who reaffirmed her stance to oppose THAAD deployment at the debate of Korea Broadcasting Journalists Club, did not even meet the defense minister who visited the National Assembly on Friday. We urgently need multi-layered defense systems in response to the missile threats from the North. It is worrisome that Choo's sense of national security is not proper as the leader of main opposition party.

Despite the fact that electromagnetic waves emitted by the system’s radar was proved to be harmless, Gimcheon residents who live nearby areas and religious groups stepped up protest against THAAD while refusing to have a briefing session of the ministry on Friday. Some people call for an enactment of special act to support for regional development instead of THAAD deployment. However, settling the matter from a broad point of view should come first for the national security.

China's state-run Xinhua News Agency literally threated South Korea Friday, by saying, “Fire pits are everywhere with THAAD for the future of South Korea.” Disrespect and arrogance of China is hardly endurable as the country continues to threat not to deploy defense weapons while it tolerates the North's nuclear and missile ambitions. Gen. Walter Sharp, former commander of U.S. Forces Korea, said that there is high demand for THAAD in other parts of the world including Israel on Sept. 14. His comment seemed to criticize the rukewarmness of South Korea. As the site for THAAD has been decided in final, efforts should be made to deploy THAAD immediately. President Park told the U.S. generals stationed in Korea on Friday that the North Korea’s nuclear program is a dagger right under our nose. We cannot be stabbed in neck without any preparations.

허문명논설위원 angelhuh@donga.com