Seoul needs to get out of THAAD 'dilemma'

There is a silver lining behind the cloud of relationship between China and the Republic of Korea, which has been sour since the latter decided to allow the US to deploy Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-missile system on its soil in July last year. During a strategic dialogue between foreign ministries on Tuesday, both countries voiced a willingness to improve bilateral ties.

China hoped the ROK would show the necessary political will and resolution to improve ties with China, State Councilor Yang Jiechi told ROK First Vice-Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam on Tuesday. And the high-level strategic dialogue in Beijing between Lim and his Chinese counterpart Zhang Yesui reached an agreement that both sides need to maintain close communications on THAAD deployment.

It is difficult to evaluate the delay in the installation of THAAD after the ROK President Moon Jae-in ordered an environmental evaluation, because he reiterated that the THAAD decision made by his predecessor Park Geun-hye will be carried through. The decision to "delay" the THAAD rollout reportedly annoyed US President Donald Trump.