KBS World Radio:
President Park Geun-hye said Friday that the THAAD missile defense system will no longer be necessary if North Korea’s nuclear threats disappear.
In a written interview with Russia’s new agency Russia Today, Park said that the THAAD issue is rooted in North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats. She made the remarks in response to a question about her stance regarding Moscow’s opposition to the deployment of the THAAD battery in South Korea.
The president explained that the THAAD deployment is a defensive measure South Korea has inevitably taken to protect itself and its people from growing North Korean nuclear and missile threats. She stressed that Seoul has no intentions or plans to target third countries with THAAD.
Park said that the North Korean nuclear problem is a big obstacle to South Korea-Russia cooperation, including a project to develop the Far Eastern region. She revealed her plan to frankly discuss the North Korean nuclear issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin and strengthen bilateral cooperation for resolving it.
The president said it is important to make Pyongyang realize that its repeated nuclear and missile provocations will only lead to stronger international sanctions and pressure and deeper diplomatic and economic isolation. She added that there is no reason for North Korea to give up its nuclear and missile development if the matter is brushed aside.
In addition, Park hoped that the two countries will expand their economic cooperation across the entire Eurasian region. Particularly, she expressed high expectations for greater cooperation with the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union(EAEU,) noting that South Korea and the EAEU will soon complete a nine-month joint study on a possible bilateral free trade agreement.
Park left for Vladivostok on Friday afternoon to attend the Eastern Economic Forum(EEF) on the first leg of her eight-day tour to Russia, China and Laos.
