THAAD Illuminates Problems in South Korea's Civil-Military Relations

The U.S. deployment of the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) system in South Korea has stirred enormous controversy. China is indignant over the missile defense system’s radar, which is capable of detecting missile launches from China in addition to North Korea. Within South Korea, THAAD is a polarizing issue, with most conservatives for it and liberals against it. Liberals are skeptical of THAAD's military utility and the potential environmental hazards that it might inflict. Adding to the THAAD saga, in a report to President Moon Jae-in the South Korean Ministry of National Defense (MND) omitted the fact that four more launchers had been brought into the country in April along with the two already deployed. If the presidential office's allegation that the MND intentionally withheld such information is correct, it is a "great shock," as Moon has put it, and sheds light on the country's problematic civil-military relations....