In South Korea, protests began against the new deployment of the American missile defense system THAAD

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Residents of the South Korean village of Soson-ri (Songju County, 215-220 kilometers southeast of Seoul) have been protesting against the presence of a US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile base nearby since 2017. Now they oppose plans to modernize the missile defense system, additional placement of THAAD missile defense facilities, the American National Public Radio (NPR - National Public Radio - a network of about 800 radio stations) reported on its website.

The base is a symptom of the growing arms race in Asia and the strategic predicament of South Korea. The missile defense system is designed to contain China and protect against potential North Korean missiles. THAAD is a mobile ground-based anti-missile system for high-altitude transatmospheric interception of medium-range missiles.



Directly in front of you is a former golf course with an old clubhouse, several shipping containers on the grass, and six mobile rocket launchers with their barrels pointing north towards North Korea.

- says the publication, which clarifies that American and South Korean soldiers live in the old clubhouse (to the right of the batteries) and transport (sea) containers.

Pyongyang claims that on January 5, it successfully tested its second hypersonic missile, designed to penetrate and destroy missile defense systems, including THAAD.

We, activists and residents, believe that it is illegal to deploy THAAD here. Therefore, we try to be on the alert and notice any changes taking place inside the base.

- said activist Kim Young Jae.

In March 2021, the head of the Pentagon, Lloyd Austin, discussed with the South Korean side the possibility of improving the living conditions of servicemen at this base. Since then, the local population fears that the facility will turn from a temporary to a permanent one, and they do not want dangerous "gifts" from the DPRK or PRC to come to them.

Residents are now looking for signs of upgrading the rocket battery and living quarters. They block the approaches to the facility and try to prevent building materials from entering there. After five years of operation, the site still looks more like a golf course than a military base.

Publicly, the authorities say this is a temporary deployment. But these are words to reduce the resistance of the residents. But in fact, they are taking all possible steps to make the base permanent.

- added Kim Young Jae.

On a geopolitical level, the presence of THAAD in South Korea has made the base synonymous with the country's delicate balancing act between its main ally, the United States, and its main trading partner and largest neighbor, China. Beijing will vehemently oppose this facility and generally object to the American presence on the Korean Peninsula. Many South Koreans still remember how the Chinese economically punished their country when the Americans, with Seoul's permission, deployed THAAD against China's objections.

This quiet village is now being ravaged. Some call it a prison without bars

- says Park Soo Gyu, resident of Soson-ri (70 families), talking about the conflict between the authorities and the residents.

Park Soo Kyu noted that about a dozen activists have appeared in court following clashes with police.

In the event of a conflict between the United States and North Korea, or between the United States and China, this location will be one of the first targets of an attack. This village can become a front line overnight

- expressed concern of Park Soo Kyu.

In turn, Yoon Sukjun, a retired Korean Navy captain, said that since THAAD is being integrated into the US missile defense system, Seoul is no longer limited by its previous promises to Beijing, and Washington does not need to make excuses and beat around the bush. He thinks THAAD can end Seoul's strategic uncertainty over its dealings with Beijing and Washington.

THAAD is part of the US global anti-China united front. It has become a strategic tool to contain China and made South Korea one of the closest and most reliable allies of the United States.

Yoon Sukjun explained.

This is not the official point of view of the outgoing President Moon Jae-in, who avoids using any rhetoric about confronting the PRC. Therefore, the future of South Korea's approach to the THAAD problem may depend on the outcome of the presidential elections in March 2022, NPR concluded.
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    1. 123
      123
      +1
      9 January 2022 14: 38
      Koreans are lively people, they are not European slaves.
      All sorts of Romanians, Poles and other small indigenous tribes living on the Baltic coast will not dare say a word against.
      1. Pandiurin
        Pandiurin
        -1
        9 January 2022 16: 09
        Quote: 123
        Koreans are lively people, they are not European slaves.
        All sorts of Romanians, Poles and other small indigenous tribes living on the Baltic coast will not dare say a word against.

        Why would they be lively.
        They look at the United States from the bottom up and feel subhuman compared to the Americans.

        In the South Korean armed forces, the Americans rule in emergencies. A clear subordination to a superior is inherent in the mentality. USA senior.

        Specifically, the village that was likely to suffer was outraged, there was a golf club that provided the attractiveness of the village. And now the fence, the thorn, the drunken "white" people. Which of course are more people than Koreans, but when drunk do not behave very well they can rape and beat hard.

        The village will be slightly pressed, the golf course will be demolished, maybe some small compensation will be promised and the disputes will end.
        1. 123
          123
          0
          9 January 2022 17: 10
          Why would they be lively.
          They look at the United States from the bottom up and feel subhuman compared to the Americans.

          Everything in the world is relative. At least they are protesting and holding rallies. Imagining Poles or Estonians protesting against the United States is not an easy task for my imagination.

          In the South Korean armed forces, the Americans rule in emergencies. A clear subordination to a superior is inherent in the mentality. USA senior.

          Naturally they rule. They are also occupied. What is there in the mentality laid down by my grandmother in two said. Of course, they have been growing the ruling elite for 70 years, but you cannot find enough selection specialists for the whole country.
          1. Pandiurin
            Pandiurin
            0
            9 January 2022 17: 53
            Quote: 123
            Why would they be lively.
            They look at the United States from the bottom up and feel subhuman compared to the Americans.

            Everything in the world is relative. At least they are protesting and holding rallies. Imagining Poles or Estonians protesting against the United States is not an easy task for my imagination.

            In the South Korean armed forces, the Americans rule in emergencies. A clear subordination to a superior is inherent in the mentality. USA senior.

            Naturally they rule. They are also occupied. What is there in the mentality laid down by my grandmother in two said. Of course, they have been growing the ruling elite for 70 years, but you cannot find enough selection specialists for the whole country.

            The Germans also spoke about the local American base. True, the performance was a different sign), they protested against the closure of the base, tk. she gave income in the form of all kinds of payments, visits to bars and shops and a certain number of jobs.

            I think these are small-town nuances, people in specific settlements near the bases expressed a clear selfish interest in the South Caucasus, there was a loss, so they are against the base. For the Germans, on the contrary, someone stuck to the financial flows from this base, therefore, they were in favor of its existence.

            And so the same top in Germany, in the South Caucasus for patronage from the states, ordinary citizens are also mainly and in general for the presence of American troops. There is not much difference.
            1. 123
              123
              +1
              9 January 2022 19: 37
              The Germans also spoke about the local American base. True, the performance was a different sign), they protested against the closure of the base, tk. she gave income in the form of all kinds of payments, visits to bars and shops and a certain number of jobs.

              Well, what is the contradiction? European lackeys will not raise their voices against their masters. The Teutonic spirit has sunk into oblivion. The Koreans have been demanding the withdrawal of the bases and, moreover, they have been against their deployment for a long time. This staff is 6 years old.



              I think these are small-town nuances, people in specific settlements near the bases expressed a clear selfish interest in the South Caucasus, there was a loss, so they are against the base. For the Germans, on the contrary, someone stuck to the financial flows from this base, therefore, they were in favor of its existence.

              What is the loss from the modernization of the base in this case? In this case, they are protesting against the modernization of the base and the deployment of new missiles there.

              “We activists and residents believe that it is illegal to deploy THAAD here,” says activist Kim Young Jae. "Therefore, we try to be on the alert and notice any changes taking place within the base."

              https://www.npr.org/2022/01/08/1070512969/us-missile-defense-thaad-south-korea-north-korea-china

              And so the same top in Germany, in the South Caucasus for patronage from the states, ordinary citizens are also mainly and in general for the presence of American troops. There is not much difference.

              There is a difference, Koreans react more violently, protests happen regularly.

              This is the year 2020 when they demanded an increase in military spending on the maintenance of the American military.
              https://www.reuters.com/article/us-southkorea-usa-military-idUSKBN2171EU

              2019 protests
              https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/14/world/asia/south-korea-thaad-us.html

              Protests 2018.
              https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-missiles-thaad-idUSKBN1HU101