SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (Reuters) — Chinese vice foreign minister Zhang Yesui on Tuesday (February 16) expressed opposition to the possible deployment of an advanced U.S. missile defense system in South Korea, following North Korea’s recent rocket launch.
“We exchanged opinions on THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) system. China has expressed opposition to this deployment. Related countries should take a cautious action,” Zhang said after a meeting with South Korea’s 1st Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Lim Sung-nam in Seoul.
Zhang added China agreed with the tougher U.N. Security Council resolution against North Korea.
Later in the day, Zhang also held a meeting with South Korean foreign minister Yun Byung-se.
North Korea launched a long-range rocket on February 7 carrying what it said was a satellite, drawing renewed international condemnation just weeks after it carried out a nuclear test on January 6.
It said the launch was for peaceful purposes, but Seoul and Washington have said it violated U.N. Security Council resolutions because it used ballistic missile technology.
U.S. military officials have said the THAAD system is needed in South Korea, but Seoul had been reluctant to openly discuss its deployment given the risk of damaging ties with China, its biggest trade partner.