Deployment of Thaad by USA and South Korea

THAAD is a missile defense system designed by the Americans to shoot down ballistic missiles. It minimizes the risk of explosion and destroys ballistic missiles before they explode. This paper will examine what prompted South Korea and the U.S to deploy THAAD. The paper will also establish whether the deployment of THAAD has diplomatic and military implications.

The United States started the deployment of the antimissile system following North Korea’s provocative behavior. The deployment of THAAD by the United States came after North Korea launched ballistic missiles (Gordon, 2018, 1). The launchings by the North Korean military was supposed to counter the joint naval exercise by the United States and South Korea. These ballistic missile launches by the North Korean military has prompted the South Korean government to advocate for accelerated THAAD deployment.
The United States has occasionally admitted that it would stand with its Asian allies to take precautions that will enable defense against ballistic missile threats from North Korea. The American government insists that these precautions will enable enhancement of their ability to deter and protect their citizens against missile attacks from North Korea.

Deployed of THAAD has sparked both military and diplomatic oppositions. China has incensed the deployment of THAAD claiming it would give the United States the ability to detect missile attacks launched from China. According to the spokesperson of China’s foreign affairs, Geng Shuang, launching THAAD in their country will threaten their security interests (BBC News, 2018, 1). This would result in unmeasured security threats to their country. China has termed the deployment of THAAD as a bad move and vocally advocated against it.

South Korea’s alliance with the United States in the deployment of THAAD has resulted in economic implications to their country. Chinese state media has incited their citizens to boycott South Korean products over the THAAD issue(BBC News, 2018, 1). A lot of stores affiliated with the South Korean products have been closed. China claims that it will continue boycotting the South Korean products until they stop collaboration with the United States over THAAD.

A section of South Korean citizens especially farmers located in the southern parts of the country protested against the establishment of the THAAD battery in their region. These citizens fear that the establishment of the THAAD batteries would harm agriculture which is their main source of livelihood (BBC News, 2018, 1). Many South Korean Citizens also worry that the deployment of THAAD will increase the military tension that already exists between them and other Asian countries such as China and North Korea. South Korea’s support for the deployment of THAAD has resulted to some Asian countries severing stern measures against them. For instance, China has severed all diplomatic relations with South Korea.

THAAD is a defense mechanism that aims at destroying ballistic missile attacks and paralyzing target missiles before they explode. Its deployment is a wise military decision because through it the United States government and the South Korean government will be able to stop military against them(Gordon, 2018, 1). Though it has some military implications it serves a greater good and creates a sense of protection within the citizen fraternity.

Deployment of THAAD has resulted to diplomatic implications to the government of Southern Korea (BBC News, 2018, 1). Some Asian countries are not pleased with this deployment and thus have refused to uphold the diplomatic agreements between them and South Korea.