Park discusses U.S. missile defense system with Xi

By Kim Kwang-tae

WASHINGTON, March 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Park Geun-hye discussed the possible deployment of an advanced U.S. missile defense system with her Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, a senior official said.

The two leaders "expressed their basic opinions" on the issue and they agreed to "continue communications in the future," Kim Kyou-hyun, senior presidential secretary for foreign affairs, told reporters, without elaborating.

China has repeatedly expressed its opposition to the possible deployment of the U.S. missile defense system called Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in South Korea as the radar system could also keep close watch over China.

Seoul and Washington have dismissed such concerns, saying the U.S. missile shield is defensive in nature and focuses on North Korea's missile activities.

THAAD is primarily meant to shoot down incoming ballistic missiles using a hit-to-kill system.

In March, Seoul and Washington officially launched a joint working group to discuss the possible deployment of the missile shield in South Korea amid the threats posed by North Korea's missile program.

entropy@yna.co.kr
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