Pres. Park reiterates necessity of THAAD deployment plan
Pres. Park reiterates necessity of THAAD deployment plan
Posted July. 22, 2016 07:09,
Updated July. 22, 2016 07:24
President Park Geun-hye on Thursday defended the recent decision by Seoul and Washington to deploy the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, asking opponents to propose a way, if there is any, to protect the South Korean people from North Korean missiles other than deploying the missile defense system. “It is not only the president and the government’s job to protect the country and its people,” she stressed. Her remarks are interpreted not only as a reiteration of the necessity of the THAAD deployment but also a pressure on politicians who oppose the plan.
Presiding over a session of the National Security Council, Park discussed North Korea’s escalation of its threats and said, “If we become divided over the inevitable choice to protect the nation and people's lives, and there is further confusion, we could wind up going in the direction that North Korea may want.” She added, “It is important to ensure that 'impure' forces do not engage in all these issues, and we should thoroughly sort them out.”
She also asked ministers and officials in charge of national security to handle the issue “with a thorough sense of duty and patriotism” and to try to muster public support by informing the people of details about the issue rather than avoiding the issue for fear of criticisms.
“I have recently been receiving much criticism and resistance,” Park said. “But should the president waver in this situation, the country would become unstable.” She then asked her officials to take the bull by the horn on justifiable issues. Although the message came out during her remarks about the planned THAAD deployment, observers speculate that it could be related to the corruption allegations involving Woo Byung-woo, her senior secretary for civil affairs.
장택동 기자will71@donga.com
Presiding over a session of the National Security Council, Park discussed North Korea’s escalation of its threats and said, “If we become divided over the inevitable choice to protect the nation and people's lives, and there is further confusion, we could wind up going in the direction that North Korea may want.” She added, “It is important to ensure that 'impure' forces do not engage in all these issues, and we should thoroughly sort them out.”
She also asked ministers and officials in charge of national security to handle the issue “with a thorough sense of duty and patriotism” and to try to muster public support by informing the people of details about the issue rather than avoiding the issue for fear of criticisms.
“I have recently been receiving much criticism and resistance,” Park said. “But should the president waver in this situation, the country would become unstable.” She then asked her officials to take the bull by the horn on justifiable issues. Although the message came out during her remarks about the planned THAAD deployment, observers speculate that it could be related to the corruption allegations involving Woo Byung-woo, her senior secretary for civil affairs.
장택동 기자will71@donga.com
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