New | US vows South Korea missile defence deployment ‘going to happen’; Washington goads China to do more about North Korea

Deployment of a new US missile-defence system to South Korea “is going to happen,” US Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Friday, adding that China should do more to counter North Korea’s missile development rather than complain about US plans.

The United States and South Korea began talks on possible deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system after North Korea tested its fourth nuclear bomb on January 6 and launched a long-range rocket on February 7.

China agreed to tough new UN sanctions on North Korea after the tests but has said it is “firmly opposed” to THAAD deployment, arguing that it will undermine its strategic deterrent.

Asked at a New York seminar if the deployment would go ahead, Carter replied:

“Oh, it’s going to happen. It’s a necessary thing. It’s between us and the South Koreans; it’s part of protecting our own forces on the Korean peninsula, and protecting South Korea.

“(It) Has nothing to do with the Chinese, and I do wish the Chinese would work with us, or really work bilaterally with North Korea more effectively, although it’s easy to say that - dealing with North Korea for anybody is a challenge - at heading off their missile challenge in the first place.