S.Korea to seek legal action against China

By Alex Jensen

SEOUL, South Korea (AA) - South Korea is preparing to take international legal action against Beijing, according to a government statement Sunday – after a series of Chinese moves apparently aimed at dissuading Seoul from deploying an American anti-missile system, THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense).

China was condemned by both sides of Seoul’s political aisle after last Thursday’s order to stop major travel agencies from selling packages to South Korea, while Beijing’s official media recently suggested bilateral ties could be cut altogether.

The South’s acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn insisted Friday the THAAD deployment will go ahead as planned, which means the system could be in place as soon as May despite Chinese concerns that it could be abused by Washington as a spying tool.

Seoul is facing the prospect of losing billions of dollars in tourism revenue in addition to Chinese pressure on South Korean firms and growing reports of boycotting popular goods and entertainment products.

South Korean Trade Minister Joo Hyung-hwan said Sunday the government “will seek international legal action against possible violations of the World Trade Organization and the Seoul-Beijing free trade agreement.”

“The South Korean government is keeping close tabs on retaliatory measures taken by the Chinese authorities and (will) deal with any discrimination or damages that South Korean companies are suffering from,” read Joo’s statement carried by local news agency Yonhap.

Seoul’s embassy in China revealed Saturday it had set up a team to help support individuals and companies that might be hurt by Beijing’s anti-THAAD moves.