The Heat: THAAD missile tensions

The Heat

The United States and the Republic of Korea claim the objective is to respond to the growing nuclear threat from the DPRK.

But China insists the plan to deploy the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile system, or THAAD, damages its security interests, and threatens stability on the Korean peninsula and in East Asia. And China is not alone.

Russian analysts said the deployment will not only escalate regional tensions, it would undermine Moscow’s relationship with Seoul. Both Moscow and Beijing have agreed to work together to “consider strengthening bilateral coordinating measures” to tackle the threat.

For an international perspective of the THAAD missile system:

  • Dmitry Babich, a Russian political analyst
  • Jenny Town, assistant director of the U.S.-Korea Institute at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies
  • U-Jean Jung, CCTV correspondent in Seoul, South Korea

For the Chinese perspective:

  • Tian Wei, anchor for CCTV’s prime time talk program, “World Insight”