S.Korea: Trump remarks put anti-missile system in doubt

By Alex Jensen

SEOUL (AA) - Amid fast approaching presidential polls and fresh North Korean missile tests, South Korea’s ascendant Democratic Party vowed Sunday to seek parliamentary hearings over a new American anti-missile system.

Having already raised concerns due to China’s disapproval resulting in unofficial sanctions, critics of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system got extra ammunition when U.S. President Donald Trump said South Korea should shoulder the system’s $1 billion cost, a complete U-turn from a prior agreement.

“As President Trump has said he told our government to pay for the THAAD costs, the matter needs to be checked in detail,” a DP special committee demanded, according to the Yonhap News Agency.

Even though key parts for the American battery have already arrived in the South, it is conceivable the DP’s presidential candidate Moon Jae-in could seek a way out if he prevails as expected in next month’s election.

The latest Realmeter poll results show Moon leading his nearest rival by more than 20 percentage points ahead of the May 9 vote.

However, against the backdrop of high tensions with North Korea, U.S. National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster insisted in phone talks with his South Korean counterpart Sunday that Washington will uphold its side of the bargain and fund THAAD.