China urges S.Korea to honor pledge about THAAD

[krzepice1976]

China has urged South Korea to uphold its pledge not to allow the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system to harm China's security interests as South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha concluded her three-day visit to China on Thursday.

Analysts warned that if South Korea reneges on its pledge, it would plunge bilateral ties to a much lower level, causing irreversible damage to mutual trust.

Kang's visit to China was seen as preparation for South Korean President Moon Jae-in's state visit to Beijing in December.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during his meeting on Wednesday with Kang that China values South Korea's three-point pledge that it will not add to the existing THAAD system, not participate in the US-led missile defense system, and not participate in the proposed Japan-South Korea-US military alliance, as well as its vow not to harm China's security interests.

He called for joint efforts from the two sides to further increase mutual understanding, minimize their differences and create conditions for the full recovery of bilateral ties

http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1076889.shtml

 

[Drumboy44]

Seoul's defense ministry said Friday that it has no plan to hold talks with China over an advanced U.S. missile defense system deployed in South Korea.

A local media outlet reported that China has officially asked South Korea to open military talks at an early date over the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. China has vehemently opposed it, saying that the move hurts its security interest.

"There is no plan for such talks," Moon Sang-gyun, spokesman at the Ministry of National Defense, told a briefing.

South Korea and China announced an agreement in late October to mend ties after more than a year of frayed diplomatic relations over the deployment.

Despite the agreement, the dispute over the THAAD has not been fully resolved as China calls on the South to take "practical" actions to address its concerns.

Moon also dismissed a local report that China has requested Seoul set up a shield against a radar that comes with the THAAD. China has claimed that the radar could spy on its military facilities and harm its security interests.

http://m.yna.co.kr/mob2/en/contents_en.jsp?cid=AEN20171124004200315&site=0200000000&mobile