Pres. Park makes a bid to defend THAAD deployment plan

Pres. Park makes a bid to defend THAAD deployment plan. August. 09, 2016 06:43. by 장택동 기자will71@donga.com.

In a meeting with her senior presidential secretaries on Monday, President Park Geun-hye criticized logic behind the opposition parties’ resistance to the Thaad missile system as being “absurd." “I am ready to get whatever criticism to protect the public,” she said while revealing her stern determination. The president made a bid to clarify that she cannot back off, since the issue is about national security, even if she is on a collision course with the opposition parties.

“Some in the political circle are openly making absurd claims that are in line with North Korea’s argument, saying that due to the THAAD deployment decision, South Korea has come to lose the justification to criticize North Korea, even if Pyongyang makes additional provocations,” Park said. “Some of the opposition lawmakers who are against the THAAD deployment are agreeing to China’s stance and will reportedly visit China,” in raising issue with China visit by several lawmakers of the main opposition Minjoo Party.

“Irrespective of whether you are ruling or opposition party lawmakers, we should form unity in times like this, and should trust the government and give endorsement,” the president said. “I sincerely hope that the political circle takes the lead in supporting the effort to secure the safety of the country and people.”

“President Park had been making more efforts to improve ties with Beijing than anyone else, but has chosen to deploy THAAD missile defense system because the severity of North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats has intensified all the more,” a presidential office source said. “The president who puts top priority on the safety of the people will never back off no matter who is opposed.”

“The only calling that remains with me is to guard the safety of this country and people as president,” the president said in a Cabinet meeting on last Tuesday.

The defense ministry and the foreign ministry have been taking the lead in addressing the THAAD issue, but the presidential office announced on its position Monday on Minjoo Party lawmakers’ visit to China on the previous day.

At the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday last week, the president mentioned that although the Cabinet still had a lingering issue over the missile defense system despite its efforts to deal with it. “I will meet with lawmakers and mayors and governors to try and proactively address the issue,” she said last Tuesday by expressing her intention to take on the issue in person.

Park didn’t make any comments on China’s opposition on Monday. Since the presidential office already strongly blasted Beijing, the president is believed to be trying to strike a balance in consideration of Seoul’s relations with Beijing.