What did the Russian diplomat say about the US missile defense system in South Korea?

A Russian Foreign Ministry official said that the US THAAD missile defense system in South Korea may be targeting Russia and China rather than dealing with North Korea's weapons program.

Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system.

According to Sputnik, the US is using the missile threat from North Korea as an excuse to develop the THAAD system near the borders of Russia and China.

Mr. Georgiy Borisenko of the North America department at the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the US THAAD missile defense system in South Korea is targeting Russia and China.

According to Mr. Borisenko, Washington only used the North Korean missile threat as an excuse to deploy the THAAD system near the borders of Russia and China.

“These systems cannot stop North Korea. The THAAD system cannot intercept artillery shells, so against North Korea, these systems are unnecessary,” Borisenko said.

Mr. Borisenko emphasized that Russia and China are very aware that THAAD is aimed directly at these two countries. Moscow and Beijing oppose the deployment of this system, saying that it could further escalate the nuclear crisis and provoke North Korea.

Russia, along with China, also criticized the US and South Korean military exercises, saying they could endanger regional peace and stability.

Speaking at a session of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Chinese Ambassador Liu Jieyi once said: "Increasing military development on the peninsula will not help us achieve the goal of denuclearization or regional stability."

According to VTC News