Radio Sputnik’s Loud and Clear spoke with Lee and Rhee about their experience and the potential negative impact THAAD could have in South Korea.
"At the immigration checkpoint," Rhee recalled, "we were taken inside a small investigation room and after some questions, we found out that there was a block on our entry, which was placed by the 'Central Agency."
"Since the immigration officers were a lower rank they couldn’t tell us why the block was placed, however. They couldn’t let us pass. We were given a paper stating that in accordance with articles 11 and 12 of the Korean Immigration Control Act we could not enter Korea."
After being denied entry, Rhee and Lee were sent to Hawaii.
Loud and Clear Host Brian Becker asked, "Why do you think you were detained and then deported? You’ve been to South Korea before, you’ve been there for political and progressive trips and you entered without any problems. You were there to protest against the deployment of the THAAD. Why was this time so different?"
Rhee said their deportation was likely connected to their plans to condemn the deployment of THAAD, and their support of residents in the village where the system would be deployed.
"The resistance from the town of Seongju has been severe." She explained, "The government must’ve considered us a threat, at this point, to bring more voices and more power to the solidarity with the Seongju village."
"Why is THAAD so important?" Becker asked Lee. "Why does it represent a dangerous escalation of militarism and how does it destabilize the region, and how does the decision to employ it violate the democratic rights of the Korean people?"
Lee explained that THAAD is "part of a large network of US missile defense systems stationed around the world. Missile defense is very provocative. The aim is to give one side political advantage in the event of a nuclear war…It strengthens the US’ first strike capability."
She offered that instead of THAAD being used to defend South Korea, it will actually make South Korea a pawn in the US’ military strategy.
"THAAD is really a part of this global arms race and US efforts to encircle China and Russia through a chain of missile defense systems." She stated, "The US and South Korea have been telling South Korean citizens that THAAD is really for the defense of South Korea but this is completely false, this is not true. The real aim of THAAD is to neutralize Chinese missile capabilities and also to protect US military assets in the region."
Lee feels that if there is to be calm in the region, South Korea has to begin to work in its own interest instead of being a cog in the wheel of another nation’s foreign policy.
"For peace and denuclearization on the Korean peninsula, it’s clear that the US and South South Korean government need to change their course."
