Escalation of Star Wars in Asia

United States and Republic of Korea decided to deploy brand-new anti-ballistic missile system called THAAD, or Terminal High Altitude Aerial Defense, on Korean Peninsula. While it aims to deter ballistic missiles developed in North Korea, its radar system can cover China or Russia. It is inevitable for this new step to further raise tension in Northeast Asia.

New system developed in U.S. is transportable surface-to-air anti-ballistic missile, which has 200 kilometers of range. The uniqueness of the system is to attack missile in as high altitude as 150 kilometers. When anti-ballistic missile shoots down an object, it gets more difficult in the terminal phase with extremely high speed close to the ground than in high altitude. THAAD can reach higher place than Patriot Missile can go. The system would be used against middle or short range missiles.

U.S. and ROK hurried the decision after realizing that a missile test of North Korea last month might have been successful. North Korea launched a mid-range ballistic missile last month, Musudan, to the outer space as high as 1,000 kilometers above the ground surface and dropped on Japan Sea 400 kilometers from the launching point. An official of ROK admitted that the quick decision of deploying THAAD was based on the shock about the North’s behavior.

The first responder was not North Korea, but China or Russia. There appeared an opinion on a webpage of Chinese military that U.S. and Japanese security posture for quick response against Chinese missiles would be enhanced. THAAD on Korean Peninsula will be operated with broad radar system called X-Band Radar deployed in Japan. The radar is capable to cover 1,000 kilometers away, including eastern part of China.

It is likely that China will accelerate militarization in South China Sea. China has deployed eight surface-to-air missiles on Woddy Island, one of the small islands of disputed Paracel Islands. As a counter action against the deployment of THAAD, China may further militarize the area at its disposal.

Russia also expressed frustration. “It is a measure awakening serious concern. It poses negative impact on global strategic stability,” announced Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry warned that the deployment of THAAD would further complicate missile and nuclear issues in North Korea. As long as Vladimir Putin administration recognize the deployment of anti-ballistic missile system in Northeastern Asia as threat on Russian nuclear power, new decision of U.S. and ROK will work for an incentive for arms race in Asia.