South Koreans Protest U.S. Missile Installation as Tensions Escalate on the Peninsula

Apr 28, 2017

Hundreds of protesters in the South Korean town of Seongju clashed with police Tuesday night as trailers carrying components of the U.S. advanced missile defense system known as THAAD rolled through en route to a nearby installation site.
U.S. troops in South Korea have begun installing equipment for the controversial Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), which enhances South Korea's capacity to intercept ballistic missiles, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reports.
Six trailers were reportedly seen carrying parts of the system's long-range X-band radar, along with other components of the system.
"We are working with the ROK (South Korea) to complete the deployment of THAAD, a defensive weapons system, to the ROK as soon as feasible," the Pentagon stated to Yonhap.
Reuters quoted South Korea's defense ministry as saying that elements of THAAD had been moved to the site "in response to North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile threat."
Protesters in the quiet town of Seongju reportedly carried signs reading, "No THAAD, No War" and "Hey, U.S.! Are you friends or occupying troops?"
Kim Jong-kyung, co-head of a group of villagers protesting the THAAD deployment, told Reuters that more than ten people had been injured in clashes with police and some had suffered broken bones.
Daniel Pinkston, Northeast Asia deputy project director at the International Crisis Group in Seoul, tells TIME that while much of the local opposition to the installation of THAAD could be attributed to parochial concerns, the presence of non-locals at the demonstrations indicates "concerns about the THAAD battery and how it will affect national security, regional security, and regional stability."
Pinkston, however, described the installation as prudent. He called the missile defense system "one tool in a basket of instruments," U.S. military strategists would have at their disposal to "alter the calculus of North Korean leadership" as they seek to maintain the Korean Armistice Agreement and their bilateral defense treaty agreements.
Tensions between Washington and Pyongyang have escalated in recent weeks: the U.S. has deployed an aircraft carrier group and nuclear submarines to the region amid fresh missile test attempts by North Korea. The 85th founding anniversary of North Korea's military on Tuesday also saw dictator Kim Jong Un preside over the country's "largest-ever" live-fire drill.South Korea's decision to accelerate the deployment of THAAD has been both divisive domestically and strained Seoul's relationship with Beijing, which regards THAAD's powerful radar as a security and surveillance threat. South Korean companies operating in China have been hit by consumer boycotts over the issue.

http://time.com/4755310/south-korea-protest-thaad-missile/

Seoul rejects Trump demand it pays for missile system

Seoul rejects Trump demand it pays for missile system
$1bn THAAD defence system in South Korea guarding against threats from North Korea will be operational 'within days'.

South Korea's government has brushed aside US President Donald Trump's suggestion that it should pay for a $1bn missile defence system the two allies are installing in South Korea to guard against threats from North Korea.

The first components of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system have already been delivered and set up at a former golf course in South Korea - infuriating China - at a time of heightened tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programmes.

Top US officials have said THAAD will be operational "within days".

"I informed South Korea it would be appropriate if they paid. It's a billion-dollar system," Trump said in an interview with the Reuters news agency.

"It's phenomenal. It's the most incredible equipment you've ever seen - shoots missiles right out of the sky," said Trump. "And it protects them and I want to protect them. We're going to protect them. But they should pay for that, and they understand that."

The two countries have been in a security alliance since the 1950-53 Korean war, and more than 28,000 US troops are stationed in South Korea.

Seoul retorted that under the Status of Forces Agreement that governs the US military presence in the country, South Korea would provide the THAAD site and infrastructure while the US would pay to deploy and operate it.

"There is no change to this basic position," South Korea's defence ministry said in a statement.

The row comes with tensions high on the Korean peninsula following a series of missile launches by North Korea and warnings from the Trump administration that military action was an "option on the table".

But earlier this week it said it would seek stronger sanctions against Pyongyang and held open the possibility of negotiations, with US Pacific Command chief Admiral Harry Harris saying it wanted to bring leader Kim Jong-un "to his senses, not to his knees".

The White House also wants China to do more to rein in North Korea, but Beijing has been infuriated by the THAAD deployment which, it fears, weakens its own ballistic capabilities and upsets the regional security balance.

Social media commentators were derisive. "So he wants to start a war with North Korea and he wants South Korea to pay for it," wrote one Twitter poster.

Al Jazeera's Wayne Hay, reporting from Seoul, said that the THAAD system was controversial from the start but that Trump's comments have "come out of the blue".

"This is US equipment, it is being run by United States personnel, it is on South Korean land that has effectively been given to the United States," said Hay. "So it is difficult to see how Donald Trump can get this one through."

Hay said there had also been a negative response to Trump stating that he wants to renogiate or terminate a five-year-old free trade pact with South Korea because of the deep trade deficit with Seoul.

South Korean car manufacturers expressed concern about Trump's comments.

"Generally, the free trade agreement has worked well - trade has increased between the two countries when we've seen trade decreasing generally around the world," said Hay.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/04/seoul-rejects-trump-demand-pays-missile-system-170428051855034.html

One billion dollars is cheap considering the trillion dollars plus damage the North Koreans could do to Seoul if Kim Jong Un heard another "fat joke".

There is a phrase we see in connection with the USA that has always given me a big pain in the arse. Its when journalists and politicians refer to the USA as the "World's Policeman." Here we have Trump wanting to bask in that dubious glory, but only for those countries willing to hire him.

CrossTalk: North Korea Saga

Published on Apr 28, 2017

We have heard it all before – all options are on the table – and of course, that means the use of force. This time North Korea is in the crosshairs. The usual bellicose language is used and threats are made. What is missing is diplomacy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-gjDtQ8OeY


The Debate - US-North Korea tensions

Published on Apr 12, 2017

In this episode of The Debate, Press TV has conducted an interview with Jason Unruhe, a political commentator and analyst from Toronto, and Michael Lane, the founder of the American Institute for Foreign Policy, from Washington, to discuss the recent escalated tensions between the US and North Korea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAJ14-j-FOA

What South Koreans Think Of Rising US-North Korea Tensions | ASIAN BOSS

Published on Apr 17, 2017

We bring you the most authentic news and people's perspectives from Asia. This time, we asked a group of South Koreans how they feel about the escalating North Korean tensions.

The opinions expressed in this video are those of individual interviewees alone and do not reflect the views of ASIAN BOSS or the general South Korean population.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N3qHSG6F2s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIOpP_dDirM

LIVE WORLD BREAKING NEWS! North Korea & UNITED STATES ESCALATING! RUSSIA, CHINA & EUROPE 24H 7/7

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C-wtCoyXcAA8WDi.jpg

US Conducts Second Test Launch in 1 Week of Minuteman 3 Ballistic Missile

03.05.2017

The US Air Force test launched the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Minuteman 3 for the second time over the course of one week, media reported Wednesday.


MOSCOW (Sputnik) – According to Fox News, which broadcast the launch, the unarmed ICBM blasted off from an air force base in California and flew more than 4,000 miles before falling into the Pacific Ocean.

The previous test launch of the ballistic missile by the United States took place on April 26. Media reported, citing the US Air Force Global Strike Command, that an unarmed Minuteman 3 was delivered to a target approximately 4,200 miles from the US Pacific Coast.

The launches are carried out amid tensions surrounding North Korea which had test fired several ballistic missiles over the recent months, including the latest one on Saturday

According to media reports, there are currently 450 Minuteman missiles in service with the United States Air Force Global Strike Command and about 50 to 75 in reserve.

https://sputniknews.com/us/201705031053239101-us-test-launch/

capitosinora wrote on May 2^nd, 2017 at 4:32pm:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C-wtCoyXcAA8WDi.jpg

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

The best cure for insanity is laughter:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMF2paM-aCw