THAAD In Korean Peninsula: Russian Military To Take US Missile System Into Account

Deployment of advanced U.S. missile system in South Korea as a deterrent to North Korea will be taken into account in Russia’s military planning, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Department for Non-Proliferation and Arms Control said Friday. Citing its security, Moscow has voiced its displeasure over the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) installation on the Korean peninsula.

Mikhail Ulyanov also said that the U.S. and South Korea’s military buildup “provokes Pyongyang toward new unreasonable steps.”

“The deployment of missile defense complex affects not only the interests of Pyongyang, but China and to a certain extent Russia. Naturally, this will be taken into account in China's, Russia's and North Korea's military planning,” Ulyanov said.

Seoul and Washington agreed in July to deploy the defense system amid growing threats from North Korea. The South Korean defense ministry said at the time that both the nations aim to make the system operational in the Seongju County by the end of 2017.

However, China and Russia maintained their opposition to the deployment and Beijing urged Seoul and Washington to reconsider their decision. In April, Moscow said that the missile system’s deployment will be a threat to its security.

Earlier this month, South Korean President Park Geun-hye told Russian news agency Sputnik that THAAD will not be used against Russia or other countries.

THAAD can reportedly shoot down short-, medium- and immediate-range ballistic missiles.