China's Negative Reaction to the US and South Korea's Decision to Install Missile Defense System

The newspaper 'People's Daily', the official publication of the ruling Communist Party of China, reported on Saturday, October 1st, that in response to the decision by the US and South Korea to deploy the advanced missile defense system (THAAD) to counter the threat from North Korea, Beijing will take retaliatory measures. According to the British publication The Guardian, the Chinese Ministry of Defense has stated that it will resort to countermeasures against the installation of the advanced missile defense system by the US in South Korea, but has not provided details about these actions. The 'People's Daily' wrote: 'China cannot remain indifferent to its security issues, and if the US and South Korea harm the strategic security interests of regional countries, including China, they will pay the price.' According to Reuters, Pyongyang has expressed concern that the installation of a powerful radar in South Korea could pose a 'serious threat' to the strategic security of the region and jeopardize China's security as well. The US and South Korea agreed in July (three months ago) to deploy the advanced THAAD missile defense system on South Korean soil. The South Korean Ministry of Defense announced on July 9th that the final decision to install the THAAD missile shield had been made, aiming to strengthen allies' capabilities against the 'increasing nuclear threats' from North Korea. The THAAD missile defense system is a shield against ballistic missiles, with each unit costing over $750 million. This system is capable of intercepting short- and medium-range ballistic missiles in the final phase of their launch. Beijing has repeatedly emphasized the need to resume negotiations with Pyongyang regarding its nuclear activities and states that imposing sanctions is not the ultimate solution. Following North Korea's fifth nuclear test last month, the US, Japan, and South Korea are pursuing severe sanctions against Pyongyang. North Korea announced on September 10th that it had successfully conducted its fifth nuclear test with military functionality. The magnitude of this nuclear explosion is estimated to be two-thirds of the Hiroshima atomic bomb explosion. On September 10th, members of the UN Security Council agreed in an emergency meeting to impose new sanctions against Pyongyang in response to the new nuclear test. The number of international sanctions against North Korea has reached five since it conducted its first nuclear test in 2006. Pyongyang, especially since Kim Jong-un came to power, has conducted dozens of ballistic missile tests that, according to world leaders, violate UN Security Council resolutions.