A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor is launched during a successful intercept test, in this undated handout photo provided by the U.S. Department of Defense, Missile Defense Agency.
Korea Times: US, China in talks over THAAD withdrawal
The U.S. and China are discussing a possible withdrawal of a U.S. missile defense system from South Korea as part of a grand bargain over North Korea's nuclear program, multiple sources familiar with the talks said.
The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, deployed in South Korea last year, has been a bone of contention with China. China has doubted U.S. claims that the system has the sole purpose of destroying missiles from North Korea, insisting its covert mission is to spy on Chinese airspace.
"Withdrawing the THAAD system from South Korea is part of a peace roadmap being discussed between Washington and Beijing after denuclearizing North Korea," a source told The Korea Times. "Washington knows well that it is impossible to seek deals with the North without cooperation from China. And China wants the U.S. to get rid of the THAAD system from South Korea."
Another source said the THAAD system in South Korea is among China's bargaining chips in seeking resolution of the North Korea nuclear problem.
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WNU Editor: The Chinese can demand all that they want on the U.S. removing their THAAD system from South Korea, but in the end this will be a decision that the South Koreans and the U.S. will be making, and not on what the Chinese want. My guess .... and the above article is saying the same thing .... is that the U.S. will comprise by withdrawing some of their forces from South Korea even though they have been denying this all week .... South Korean National Security Adviser: 'No U.S. Troop Reductions In South Korea'.
