THAAD TO MAKE A COME BACK AFTER PYONYANG N KOREA H-BOMB DETONATION - AS THAAD TO TAKE OUT ANY MISSILE THREAT LOADED WITH NUCLEAR COMING FROM THE COMMUNIST COUNTRY

Amid North Korea’s evolving nuclear and missile threats, the stationing of advanced U.S. missile assets on the peninsula would boost the allies’ defense capabilities, a leading Washington think tank said Wednesday.

Speculation persists that Washington is seeking to deploy a unit of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system in the South, though U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken reiterated that no decision has been made yet during a news conference in Seoul on Wednesday.

In a comprehensive 290-page report commissioned by the Pentagon on the Asia-Pacific rebalance strategy, the Center for Strategic and International Studies said Seoul will benefit from the battery’s presence despite its ongoing program to develop a similar system on its own.

“The ROK (South Korean) military has expressed interest in developing an indigenous THAAD-like system, but U.S. experience with these types of systems suggests a multi-decade effort would be required to develop and deploy such a missile defense system,” the document said.

“Given the growing missile threat from North Korea, THAAD provides a valuable capability.”

While many Seoul officials acknowledge THAAD’s perceived contribution to peninsula defense, Seoul is wary of the stiff opposition of China and Russia, which view its deployment here as de facto participation in the U.S.-led global missile defense program that they say is directed at them.

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160121000946