01 August 2016

News Story: DPRK condemns THAAD deployment on Korean Peninsula

PYONGYANG, July 30 (Xinhua) -- After Seoul and Washington decided in early July to introduce the Terminal High Altitude Air Defense, or THAAD, onto the Korean Peninsula, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) immediately voiced strong condemnation and even threatened to take "physical countermeasures" to deal with the missile system.

Pyongyang has in response emphasized that the introduction of the anti-missile shield would only exacerbate tension in the region, encourage a new round of arms race and even provoke another Cold War. Official media outlets have reported extensively protests and opposition within South Korea.

The DPRK's National Peace Committee of Korea said that fierce opposition and large-scale protests in South Korea were "an eruption of hatred and resentment" toward Seoul's decision to host the THAAD system.

"Owing to the Park group's foolish decision to deploy THAAD, South Korea is now being reduced to a U.S. outpost for aggression and a hotbed of a nuclear war," the committee said in a statement criticizing South Korean President Park Geun-hye and her government regarding the missile interceptor.

The Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the DPRK, a committee in charge of handling inter-Korean relations, even bluntly called Park "a traitor," blaming her for selling off interests of the whole Korean nation and harming regional peace and stability by making the decision on THAAD deployment.

Read the full story at Xinhua