UPI:
SEOUL, Nov. 15 (UPI) — South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense said it is close to acquiring a golf course where it hopes to deploy the THAAD U.S. missile defense system.
The ministry said it tentatively agreed to purchase the Lotte Skyhill Country Club in the southeastern rural county of Seongju from the Lotte conglomerate. Lotte was offered state-owned land near Seoul in exchange for the golf course, which is estimated to be worth more than $85 million.
Lotte is considering the government’s suggestions, a military official told Yonhap, who added that Lotte’s decision is expected later Tuesday or Wednesday. If a deal is reached, the country club and the state-owned land near Seoul will be appraised.
“If the value of the Lotte golf course turns out to be higher than that of the state territory in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, the Defense Ministry is planning to provide cash or further real estate to fill the gap,” the military official said. “If the state territory is higher than the golf course in value, the ministry plans to deliver less land to Lotte.”
The ministry began negotiations with Lotte in early October after deciding in late September to deploy the U.S.-led missile defense system at the golf course. The ministry suggested a land swap instead of purchasing the golf course because it would need to seek parliamentary approval to fund the purchase…
