Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

“No negative effects on environment, and THAAD interception shows a 100% success rate”

Successful at the tests a total of 13 times

Unrelated to incorporation of the U.S. MD system

Only used in the Korean Peninsula on terminal mode

Never aiming at China

“THAAD has a success rate of 100%. It is a purely defensive system, and it has been confirmed to have no negative effects on the surrounding environment of the deployment.”

James Syring (Vice Admiral·Photo Image), director the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA), visited Korea, and in his interview with MND press corps held at the Joint Chiefs of Staff on August 11 emphasized the interception competence and safety of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), which will be deployed by the U.S. Armed Forces in Korea.

Addressing claims that THAAD had only a 47% success rate, he stated that the actual interception function is ‘100%’ successful.

“Our data confirms that it has a success rate of 100%. This data has been verified by the Operational Test and Evaluation department, in the U.S. Department of Defense. Every time a test is completed, we report the results to the US leadership and the assembly.” said Director Syring.

He confirmed that 6 out of 13 interception tests were short and medium range missile interception tests under 3,000km, while the rest are long-range ones. He also added that the range of the medium-range missile is 3,000-5,500kmand medium-range ballistic missile interception tests will be carried out next year.

On the controversy over the harmfulness of the electromagnetic waves used by THAAD radar, he explained, “Safety evaluations for the THAAD battery to be deployed on the Korean Peninsula have been conducted with the same standards as for TPY-2 radar, specifically. For radars which are now in operation in other locations around the world, there have been no safety issues or accidents reported for local residents in the last 10 years. As it will be deployed quite far from civilian residential areas, its safety can be guaranteed. It has been also confirmed to have no negative effects on the surrounding environment, including air, soil, animals and plants.”

Director Syring also responded to concerns that the THAAD deployment on the Korean Peninsula would be an incorporation of the U.S. MD system, saying that while this is true when it comes to information sharing, as a matter of the Korea-U.S. alliance, Korea will not be included in the global MD system operated by the U.S.

“It is not true that THAAD to be deployed in Korea will be connected to the U.S. Command, Control, Battle Management, and Communications (C2BMC). Radars connected to C2BMC are used for defending the continental U.S. and other regions. The THAAD deployed in Korea would be used in Korea only,” he additionally explained.

He also said the THAAD radar would be operated on Terminal Mode (TM) only, not Forward Based Mode (FBM) mode which detects enemy missiles at the launch stage, actively refuting some claims that it might be used to detect Chinese missile bases.

On the possibility of switching terminal mode to FBM of THAAD, he emphasized that there was no chance the THAAD in Korea would be pointed at China, though he added that in terms of a purely material aspects, it would be possible to make such a switch quickly.

Meanwhile, the US MDA functions for the development of the fighting power and general defense duties of the continental U.S., overseas dispatched units and allies from enemy ballistic missile threats.

By Byeong-No, Yun < trylover@dema.mil.kr
Photo < Yong-hak, Cho Reporter >