The Washington Times:
North Korea’s recent tests of long-range, nuclear-capable missiles, which could potentially hit targets as far away as the continental United States, continues to be Washington’s best argument for maintaining a series of controversial anti-missile systems in neighboring South Korea.
The Pentagon’s decision to deploy the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense or THAAD system to the Korean peninsula has roiled regional leaders, including newly elected South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Since taking office earlier this year, he has vowed to adjust Seoul’s deal with Washington to allow the THAAD systems on South Korean soil.
But the weapon’s necessity in the region has become abundantly clear, in the wake of a pair of successful test launches by Pyongyang of prototype intercontinental ballistic missiles over the past month, Pentagon spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis said Monday.
“A lot of people question the need for THAAD, they question the requirement for [the weapon]” in South Korea, Capt. Davis told reporters at the Defense Department. “The North Koreans are being far better spokespeople for [THAAD] … they are making the case for us rather effectively.”
His comments come after the Pentagon green lighted a series of intentionally provocative military operations in the Pacific, beginning hours after the July 29th missile test by North Korea, culminating Sunday with a flyover by a pair of nuclear-capable U.S. bombers over the peninsula…
