South Korean president says THAAD is minimum measure of self defence

Record ID: 83266

  • Title: South Korean president says THAAD is minimum measure of self defence
  • Date: 1st October 2016
  • Summary: GYERYONG, SOUTH KOREA (OCTOBER 1, 2016) (REUTERS) SOLDIERS STANDING IN FORMATION
  • Embargoed: 16th October 2016 05:52
  • Keywords: Park Gyun-hye THAAD ceremony armed forces day North Korea USA
  • Location: GYERYONG, SOUTH KOREA
  • City: GYERYONG, SOUTH KOREA
  • Country: South Korea
  • Reuters ID: LVA0065268TAD
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Saturday (October 1) said the deployment of THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) is a minimum measure of self defence.
    Amid rising tensions on the Korean peninsula, the South Korean army commemorated the day that South Korean forces broke through the 38th parallel in 1950 during the Korean War.
    "The deployment of THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) is a minimum measure of self defence to protect our people. We are taking necessary action for North Korea's possible attack," Park said during the speech of celebrating the 68th anniversary of Armed Forces Day.
    In July, South Korea agreed with the United States that the U.S. THAAD anti-missile unit would be deployed in the Seongju region, southeast of the capital, Seoul, to defend the country.
    A South Korean defense ministry official said on Friday (September 30) that the country's military now aims to deploy the unit on a golf course at the high-end Lotte Skyhill Seongju Country Club, after it had to scrap its initial site for the battery in the face of opposition from residents.
    Tension on the Korean peninsula has been high this year, beginning with North Korea's fourth nuclear test in January, which was followed by a satellite launch, a string of tests of various missiles, and its fifth and largest nuclear test in September.
    "North Korea should give up developing nuclear weapons and return to the path of a normal nation by facing the times and its realities," Park said.
    North and South Korea are still technically at war since the 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce without a peace treaty. The two Koreas station about one million troops near their respective sides of the Demilitarized Zone that has divided the peninsula since the Korea War ended.
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