National Security Chief Tells South Korea U.S. Will Pay for Defense System

For a few years, the U.S. has been trying to install a THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) missile system in the Republic of Korea, as negotiations have moved forward and tensions between China and North Korea have grown the U.S. has moved closer to the final installation date. The only problem left is who is paying for it? In an interview last week, with Reuters and the Washington Times, President Trump remarked that it would be more appropriate for the Republic of Korea to pay for the THADD system, this has since been countered with a response by White House national-security chief Lt. General McMaster who has announced that until the deal is renegotiation that the U.S. will pay for the system. The article further mentions the leading candidate, Moon Jae-inm, in the South’s election is opposed to paying for the system when South Korea is paying for both the land and the base for U.S. system. As this system marks a key part of the U.S. Asian strategy it will be important to see if money will become between friends, and how the May 9th election will effect negotiations.

Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/articles/national-security-chief-tells-south-korea-u-s-will-pay-for-defense-system-1493523260 

Nathaniel Dust