THAAD's not bad

By Deauwand Myers

Korea's history is a long and interesting one: buffeted by the Chinese, Mongolians, and the Japanese. Present-day Korea is still facing geopolitical challenges. The DPRK is an existential threat to Korea. It has atomic weapons, and though unlikely, may use them against Korea in a war.

Currently, North Korea doesn't have the technology to deliver nuclear payloads via missiles. This may not be the case in the future. The DPRK's opaque and internationally isolated society makes gathering intelligence on it nearly impossible.

In place of nuclear weapons mounted on reliable ICBMs, the DPRK has many conventional missiles, artillery, rudimentary submarines and an elite force of first-wave infantrymen.

North Korea would lose, and badly, in a possible war with Korea. By itself, or in concert with the U.S., Korea would resoundingly crush the DPRK. North Korea is very impoverished; its military is large, but weak, and much of its military hardware is outdated and/or malfunctioning.

But like its larger and much more powerful neighbor, China, North Korea has heavily invested in asymmetric warfare, like cyber terrorism, covert saboteurs, and classic espionage. Furthermore, in the event of a war between the Koreas, those aforementioned conventional missiles could still inflect heavy causalities on Seoul and the surrounding provinces. This is the paramount reason Korea and the U.S. haven't militarily engaged the North in an all-out conflict.

The protection of Seoul and the rest of Korea, from the North's conventional missiles and artillery is why THAAD is a smart, and most probably, inevitable move Korea and America will eventually make.

THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) is a missile defense system meant to intercept incoming missiles at high altitudes via its own projectiles, destroying the weapons high above, long before said missiles reach their target.

Many defense officials in both Korea and America, including General Scaparrotti (Commander of United Nations Command, ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea) are strongly in favor of deploying such a system in Korea to guard against possible future aggression from the DPRK.

Russia, but especially China, don't really want THAAD to go operational on the Korean peninsula. China's military, though far behind America's, has invested in strategies to help blunt the superior technology, firepower, and expertise of America's navy and air force in the event of a conflict between China and the United States.

For example, missiles designed to sink U.S. carriers and destroyers are part of China's own asymmetric strategy against America. THAAD would greatly diminish the effectiveness of this strategy. As China more robustly asserts itself in South Asia over sea and land claims, a more engaged America, coupled with THAAD, seriously complicates China's territorial claims and overtures to exert influence and power in the region.

China is a key trading partner with Korea, and the only state truly supporting the DPRK. As such, China has some influence in controlling the North's behavior, though how much influence is up for debate.

China's claims on much of the South China Sea are illegitimate. It has used its larger size and more powerful military to bully its smaller and less powerful neighbors; sadly, the same fate it endured when Britain forced drug use and naval concessions during the Opium Wars, and later, Japanese aggression before and during WWII, in which hundreds of thousands of Chinese were killed by Imperial Japan.

China's problems with Japan and Taiwan aren't going to be solved any time soon, and certainly not by military force, as both Japan and Taiwan are protected by American forces.

As with much of its history, Korea finds itself stuck between competing powers far larger and stronger than itself. Yet, if China were to diminish trade with Korea, pretty much the extent of its leverage with Korea, the alternative—not having THAAD to aid in Korea's protection, isn't much of a hard decision to make.

President Park's tenure, thus far, hasn't been satisfactory, particularly in regards to domestic policy. Her cabinet nominations have been rife with scandal and intrigue. She's stifled political dissent and free speech in the name of national security. She's failed to increase wages or gainful employment for the unemployed and underemployed. Middle class taxes have increased, while the wealthiest Koreans have seen their taxes decrease. Education is still very expensive for most Korean parents. The wage gap between equally qualified women and their male counterparts is one of the highest of any wealthy country.

However, her firm stance against engagement with the North until meaningful concessions are met (namely, a verifiable dismantling of its nuclear program) is tough, smart, and wise. She will do everything in her power to safeguard her nation. THAAD should be part of this safeguarding.

First and foremost, Korea's concerns should be on the protection of its citizens, the most solemn duty of any government towards its people.

Deauwand Myers holds a master's degree in English literature and literary theory, and is an English professor outside Seoul. He can be reached at deauwand@hotmail.co m.