China paper says U.S., South Korea will
'pay the price' for planned missile system
Send a link to a friend
[October 01, 2016]
BEIJING (Reuters) - The United
States and South Korea are destined to "pay the price" for their
decision to deploy an advanced missile defense system which will
inevitably prompt a "counter attack", China's top newspaper said on
Saturday.
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 last month.
In July, South Korea agreed with the United States to deploy the U.S.
Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system to
protect against any North Korean threats.
South Korea aims to deploy the system on a golf course, a defense
ministry official said on Friday.
But the plan has angered China, which worries that THAAD's powerful
radar would compromise its security and do nothing to lower temperatures
on the Korean peninsula.
In a commentary, the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily
said China's opposition to THAAD would never change as it was a serious
threat to the regional strategic security balance.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Oct/01/images/ads/current/cca_laptop-sda021709.png)
"Like any other country, China can neither be vague nor indifferent on
security matters that affect its core interests," the newspaper said in
the commentary, published under the pen name "Zhong Sheng", meaning
"Voice of China", often used to give views on foreign policy.
The United States and South Korea have to wake up to the fact that the
Korean peninsula is no place to take risks, it added.
"If the United States and South Korea harm the strategic security
interests of countries in the region including China, then they are
destined to pay the price for this and receive a proper counter attack,"
the paper added, without elaborating.
NO DETAILS YET
China has repeatedly promised to take specific steps to respond since
the THAAD decision was announced, but has given no details about what it
may do.
[to top of second column] |
![](../images/100116PICS/news_p21.jpg)
A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor is
launched during a successful intercept test, in this undated handout
photo provided by the U.S. Department of Defense, Missile Defense
Agency. U.S. Department of Defense, Missile Defense Agency/Handout
via Reuters/File Photo
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Oct/01/images/ads/current/rohlfs_lda_051513.png)
The United States and South Korea have said THAAD does not threaten
China's security or target any country other than North Korea.
China is North Korea's most important diplomatic and economic
partner, but Beijing has been infuriated by its nuclear and missile
tests and has signed up for strong United Nations sanctions against
North Korea.
However, China has continued to call for talks to resolve the North
Korean issue and said sanctions are not the ultimate solution.
At a reception in Pyongyang on Friday for China's National Day,
Chinese Ambassador Li Jinjun said his country wanted to consolidate
its friendship with North Korea, China's Xinhua news agency said on
Saturday.
The report made no mention of the nuclear issue.
(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Richard Borsuk)
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Oct/01/images/ads/current/graue_16_colorado_092616.png) |