Will the US and South Korea have to 'pay the price' for THAAD?

(Baonghean.vn) - The US and South Korea will certainly "pay the price" for their decision to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system, and will inevitably face a "counterattack" from China - China's People's Daily said loudly on October 1.

The decision by the US and South Korea to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system has angered China. Photo: Reuters.

In July, South Korea and the United States agreed to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system to defend against threats from North Korea. On September 30, South Korea said it would deploy the system at a golf course.

The US and South Korea plans have angered China, which believes the THAAD system will affect China’s security and will not help ease tensions on the Korean peninsula.

Since the beginning of the year, the situation on the Korean peninsula has been extremely complicated, starting with North Korea's missile test in January. Following that, the country has conducted a series of satellite launches, missile tests, and most recently, its fifth nuclear test of unprecedented magnitude.

The People's Daily asserted that China will never change its opposition to THAAD because the missile defense system poses a serious threat to the strategic security balance in the region.

“Like other countries, China cannot ignore security issues that could affect its core national interests. The US and South Korea need to understand that they cannot create more risks for the Korean Peninsula,” the article commented.

The People's Daily also stressed that if the US and South Korea threaten the strategic security interests of countries in the region, including China, the two countries will have to pay the price and face "counterattacks".

Since the US and South Korea decided to deploy the THAAD system in South Korea, China has repeatedly warned that it will take countermeasures. However, so far, the country has not given details on how it will respond.

Meanwhile, the US and South Korea declared that THAAD does not threaten China's security and is not aimed at any country other than North Korea.

Diep Khanh

(According to Reuters)