'Seoul open to talks on missile defense with U.S

Korea Herald ^ | 1/18/2010 | By Hwang Jang-jin

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

South Korea is willing to discuss its participation in the U.S.-led regional ballistic missile defense system to deter a growing threat from North Korea, a senior defense official was quoted as saying.

The U.S. Department of Defense said this month that South Korea is an important U.S. BMD partner and the two sides are discussing the missile defense cooperation in a bilateral framework.

Yonhap News yesterday cited a Defense Ministry official as saying, "We are wiling to discuss our participation in a regional MD system in response to the North's missile threat."

The official said defense research institutes from the two countries have exchanged opinions about possible BMD cooperation. But there were no formal talks between the two governments, he added.

Seoul has been reluctant to join the U.S. anti-missile efforts out of concern that its explicit participation would provoke Pyongyang and sour Seoul's ties with China and Russia. The development and deployment of BMD capabilities would cost the government tremendously.

Pentagon's 2010 Ballistic Missile Defense Review released early this month classified South Korea as an important BMD partner in East Asia along with Japan and Australia.

The United States and Korea "are working to define possible future BMD requirements. As these requirements are determined, the United States stands ready to work with the Republic of Korea to strengthen its protection against the North Korean missile threat," the review said.

"The United States looks forward to taking further steps to enhance operational coordination and build upon ongoing missile defense cooperation (with South Korea)," it added.

[Army Air Corps]

Ping.

[Jet Jaguar]

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