Alwaght- Russia warned on Friday that the US deployment of an advanced missile system in South Korea would have ‘irreparable consequences’, echoing warnings by China of a threat to regional security.
“From the very beginning of the discussion of this issue we have consistently and invariably pointed at the most dangerous consequences of such a decision and called for our partners not to make this wrong choice. Unfortunately, our calls have remained unheard,” reads a Russian Foreign Ministry statement released Friday.
Russian diplomats noted that the increase in the Asia-Pacific segment of the global missile defense system by the United States and its allies would undermine the existing strategic balance both in the region and beyond.
The ministry also warned that the US steps threaten to increase regional tensions and create additional barriers to the peaceful settlement of the conflict between North and South Korea and nuclear disarmament on the Korean peninsula.
Meanwhile, the deputy chair of the Russian upper house’s Arms Committee, said Russia could deploy missile units in the country's eastern regions in response to the deployment of US THAAD missile system in South Korea.
"We will take into consideration the decision on deployment of US missile system in South Korea for our military planning. In cooperation with the defense ministry we will work out certain decisions on strengthening of influence in this direction, including through deployment of missile and ground units," Yevgeny Serebrennikov said.
Earlier on Friday, the South Korean Ministry of Defense announced that Seoul and Washington had reached an agreement to put a high-tech THAAD missile system in South Korea amid growing nuclear and missile threats from the North. According to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, the system is expected to be in operation by the end of 2017.
THAAD – Terminal High Altitude Area Defense – is an advanced system designed to intercept short, medium, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles during their terminal phase of flight. The US claims THAAD is meant to intercept North Korean intermediate-range ballistic missiles a claim disputed by Moscow and Beijing.
China and Russia have been saying for months that THAAD is unnecessary and would tip the balance of power in the Pacific towards the United States.
China on Friday said the system would “seriously damage the strategic security interests of countries in the region” and urged Washington to stop the deployment process.
