BEIJING, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- A three-day visit to Beijing by six South Korean opposition lawmakers has deepened the political divide in the country over the deployment of a U.S. missile defense system.
The lawmakers, all critics of the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), were travelling to Beijing at a time when relations between South Korea and China are rapidly deteriorating.
They are, however, being reviled by some South Korean politicians as "betrayers" who could jeopardize national security, and South Korean President Park Geun-hye also criticized them as sympathizers with China.
Such accusations have triggered strong reactions among South Korean opposition parties.
A major South Korean opposition lawmaker said it is possible to impeach President Park over her turning a blind eye to growing public opposition over the deployment of the missile defense system.
Tensions between Beijing and Seoul have reached unprecedented levels after the latter finally decided to deploy the THAAD system on its soil, despite repeated opposition from China.
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