Seoul: U.S. does not require payment for missile defense system placed in South Korea
South Korea only needs to provide the land for the deployment of the American THAAD missile defense system, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing sources in the South Korean military.
U.S. National Security Advisor Herbert McMaster, in a telephone conversation with his South Korean counterpart, confirmed that Seoul will not incur expenses in connection with the deployment of THAAD.
Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump said that he wanted South Korea to pay one billion dollars for the THAAD missile defense system. He noted that he also wants to review or get rid of the “terrible” trade agreement with Seoul.
Seoul replied that the United States, not South Korea, should pay for the deployment of the missile defense system.
According to the South Korean media, the THAAD battery in South Korea will have four to nine mobile systems, each of which is designed to carry eight interceptor missiles, although official data has not yet been published. The battery will also be equipped with TPY-2 TM anti-missile radar. The range of such interceptor missiles is said to be no more than 200 kilometers.
The U.S. says that the deployment of the THAAD system in South Korea is because of the missile threat posed by North Korea. This action has already caused serious concern in both China and Russia.