Published : Aug. 16, 2016 - 16:46
Defense Minister Han Min-koo will visit a southern town of Seongju-gun on Wednesday to address concerns among local residents about the upcoming deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, the ministry said Tuesday.
It marks Han’s second trip to Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, since the region was selected to house the advanced missile defense system of the US to counter North Korea’s ballistic missile threats.
The deployment talks between Seoul and Washington took off in February after Pyongyang conducted a nuclear test and a long-range rocket launch against the UN Security Council resolution.
“The upcoming meeting will be focused on garnering opinions from local citizens. (The minister) will also explain why Seongju was selected for THAAD,” ministry spokesman Moon Sang-kyun said, adding that the meeting is slated for 2 p.m.
Defense Minister Han Min-koo (left) and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn (center) are blocked by protesting residents during their visit to Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, on July 15. (Yonhap)
During Han’s visit, he is expected to present data from the ministry’s simulation on THAAD’s effectiveness and the overall evaluation on having the weapon in Seongju.
THAAD, developed by Lockheed Martin, is designed to target ballistic missiles at higher altitudes in their terminal stages.
But its ineffectiveness against shorter-range missiles and its inability to cover the capital region -- where roughly 20 million people reside -- has sparked dispute on whether the country actually needs the weapon. Its planned deployment has also irked China and Russia.
The people of Seongju, mainly those in Seongsan-ri where the weapon will be placed, have raised concerns about the possible detrimental effects on health from the THAAD’s powerful radar.
President Park Geun-hye and the ministry said last week that it is possible to consider deploying THAAD in other less populated regions within Seongju-gun.
Last week, the ministry officials visited fields near a Lotte-owned golf course in the adjacent Chojeon-myeon, which is considered one of the potential alternatives to Seongsan-ri. The location is 680 meters above sea level and is further away from residential areas than the Air Force base in Seongsan-ri, which is the ministry’s initial pick.
Moon stated that the site suitability test was not requested by the locals and that the ministry is conducting the examinations on its own.
Han’s first visit to Seongju last month, accompanied by Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, was marred by a blockade and protests by opposing residents.
By Yoon Min-sik (
minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)