President Park Geun-hye on Tuesday renewed her appeal for the planned deployment of an advanced U.S. anti-missile shield on South Korean soil, with little headway being made to convince opponents on the need for the defense system.

Presiding over a Cabinet meeting, the commander-in-chief reiterated that the decision by Seoul and Washington to deploy a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery to the southern town of Seongju was one that was made based on "long deliberations and exhaustive reviews."

"I am apprehensive that (some) are spreading various kinds of strange and groundless rumors rather than scientific evidence that has been clearly proven, and that these tales are shaking the foundation of security," she said.
"If we cannot take basic defensive steps such as the deployment of THAAD, how can we safeguard the well-being of the nation and its people?"

Noting that she lost her parents in "excruciatingly painful" ways, Park stressed that "the only mission left for her as president" is to protect the nation and people from various types of threats posed by the communist state. Park's parents -- former President Park Chung-hee and first lady Yook Young-su -- were assassinated in 1979 and 1974, respectively.

"To this end, (the government) has been striving to persuade countries in the entire world to stop their aid to North Korea and closely cooperate with our country to make the North abandon its nuclear and missile programs," she said.

It is the latest in a series of recent statements by the president to defend the allies' decision to deploy THAAD to Seongju.

Residents in the southern town have strongly opposed the deployment plan, concerned that THAAD's powerful radar system could pose health risks and hurt their agricultural crops.

Pointing to the political division over the envisioned deployment, Park underscored the need for political circles to muster up their "wisdom and strength" to prevent further division in the country's society. She added that division among South Koreans is what Pyongyang has sought to foment here.

Pledging to "actively" address complaints from the residents in Seongju, the president said she will meet lawmakers and local administrative chiefs that represent Seongju and surrounding areas.

Commenting on the anti-graft law, which is slated to go into force on Sept. 28, the president instructed her government to draw up measures to minimize any adverse impact on the local economy.

The so-called Kim Young-ran law, named after a former head of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, aims to bring more transparency to the dealings of public officials, journalists and private school faculty.

The regulations under the law make it illegal to accept meals exceeding 30,000 won ($26.8), presents in excess of 50,000 won, and money for congratulations or condolences of over 100,000 won -- a reason why local businesses claim that the law would seriously dampen consumption.

"The important obligation for the government at this point is to minimize its negative impact on the economy while firmly preserving the basic spirits of the law," Park said. (Yonhap)