"The THAAD deployment is an issue that must be decided by the next administration based on close discussions with the US and a national consensus, and approached with the best national interest in mind. Since this is an issue of great impact to our national security and comes with great economic costs, it must be ratified by the National Assembly as per the Constitution," Yoon Kwan-suk, a spokesman for Moon Jae-in said.
The press office also commented on United States President Donald Trump's suggestion that Seoul should pay for the deployment of a system worth $1 billion.
The statement urged senior politicians in the former ruling party, as well as high-ranking defense officials, to disclose the details of the deal between Washington and Seoul on THAAD.
On Wednesday, the South Korean Defense Ministry said that components of the THAAD system have been deployed to their intended destination in the North Gyeongsang province. Washington has said that the move comes in response to North Korea's muscle-flexing, but Jeong Uk-sik, the president of the Peace Network NGO, told Sputnik that THAAD will also be targeted against China.
"Undoubtedly, [Washington] has indicated that the US missile defense system must be alert not only to North Korea, but also China," he said, citing the testimony made by Admiral Harry Harris, commander of US Pacific Command, during a hearing at the House Armed Services Committee.
China has been opposed to the THAAD deployment, saying that the move "seriously undermines" strategic security of Beijing and other countries in the region.
Never miss a story again — sign up to our Telegram channel and we'll keep you up to speed!
