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US seeking longer military presence on Korean Peninsula: Analyst

Tuesday, 09 February 2016 10:45 AM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 09 February 2016 10:45 AM ]

This picture taken from North Korean TV and released by South Korean news agency Yonhap, shows North Korea’s locket launch of earth observation satellite Kwangmyong 4, February 7, 2016. ©AFP

Press TV has interviewed James Jatras, a former US Senate foreign policy analyst, in Washington, about the US plan to deploy the THAAD missile system to South Korea in reaction to the recent rocket launch by North Korea.

Press TV: Is the answer to the current situation in the Korean peninsula further militarization?

Jatras: No, I do not think so. There are really two sides to this episode. One the North Koreans launched this missile which many people interpreted as, essentially, a test of ballistic missile technology, not for any peaceful exploitation of space like launching a satellite.

There was a fairly unanimous and unusual reaction from the leadership of the international community, including from Russia and China. The [United Nations] Security Council condemned the launch, and there is really no difference of opinion about this from anybody that it was not a good thing.

However, by then moving to deploy more military equipment in South Korea, including the THAAD system, I think what this does is force Russia and China to break from that unanimity and express their concern that this simply emphasizes the American military presence in South Korea which is something obviously that Chinese do not like.

Press TV: Let’s not forget that Pyongyang has always said that its missile capabilities, missile tests, etc. are all direct reactions to the US and South Korea’s military exercises that take place year after year which are basically seen by Pyongyang as preparation for an invasion.

Jatras: That is right and how much of that is a reasonable response to that, versus an indication of the kind of very isolated and paranoid regime that we have in Pyongyang is subject to judgment.

I think the larger question, however, is that is there some way to escape from this box? Why do we give Russian and China an incentive, in fact a requirement that they help prop up the Pyongyang regime. After all, both of those countries have very good relations with South Korea and I am sure if they were a united Korea, having a reasonable and cooperative neighbor on the peninsula would be much better than having one like the current North Korean government, but what they do not want to see is the united Korea allied with the United States. This is something that would be totally unacceptable for the Chinese to face on the Yellow River.

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