WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States is not discussing the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile interceptor battery on the Korean Peninsula with its South Korean partners, US Assistant Secretary of Arms Control Frank Rose told the press.
“The bottom line is [there is] no decision to date, nor are there any negotiation underway between the US and the ROK [Republic of Korea] on this issue,” Rose said on Tuesday in response to widespread media reports of US plans for a THAAD system in Korea.
Rose further added, “There are no plans right now and no discussions are taking place.”
The United States may also be outfitting Korea with additional air defense assets. “The Republic of Korea recently announced it plans to purchase Patriot Pac-3 missiles,” Rose stated.
Both China and Russia have alleged that the possible deployment of US missile defense systems in the Pacific threaten their security. China has specifically raised concerns about such systems jeopardizing its strategic deterrent.
Washington has insisted that its regional missile defense systems are aimed at countering ballistic missile threats from Pyongyang.
In late March 2015, the Russian Foreign Ministry responded to reports of a possible US THAAD deployment in Korea warning it could spark a regional arms race.
