Closer talks can resolve THAAD issue

Editor's Note: Protests by local residents on April 12 forced the Republic of Korea Defense Ministry to halt the transport of construction materials to build additional facilities at the site of the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense antimissile system in Seongju county. Three experts share their views on the deployment of THAAD in the ROK and Beijing-Seoul relations with China Daily's Pan Yixuan.

Solving THAAD problem will take a long time

The deployment of THAAD in the ROK is a hard-to-remove wedge in Beijing-Seoul relations. China has firmly opposed the deployment of THAAD right from the beginning because the system could harm its national security interests, by restraining its defense power. But it is hard for ROK President Moon Jae-in to repeal the agreement to deploy THAAD because of Washington's pressure on Seoul and the shadow of potential conflict between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the United States.