S. Korea should form strategic military command to counter N. Korean nuclear threats: expert

SEOUL, June 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea should establish a strategic military command to counter growing North Korean nuclear and missile threats, a security expert said Sunday.

Cheong Seong-chang, a senior researcher at Sejong Institute, told Yonhap News Agency via phone that setting up a strategic command should take priority over other defense-related projects, including the development of the indigenous Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system and of a pre-emptive missile destruction system, dubbed "Kill Chain."

Cheong also expressed concerns that the potential deployment of the U.S. THAAD missile defense system here might "turn China into an adversary."

"Once the new administration takes over in the United States, we should seek to set up a strategic command that would operate missiles through open and closed-door negotiations," Cheong said. "In the long run, such a command would also have nuclear power."

Cheong claimed that the KAMD and Kill Chain would prove too costly while offering only limited deterrence against the North Korean missile threats.

The expert also opined that it "isn't convincing" to argue for the THAAD deployment in South Korea in light of North Korea's recent test-firing of its Musudan missiles, saying those mid-range missiles target U.S. forward bases in Japan and its territory of Guam.

The Pentagon said Friday talks between Seoul and Washington on the potential THAAD deployment are "progressing well" and that the United States is hoping that the discussions will wrap up as early as possible.

A proponent of South Korea's nuclear armament, Cheong said the country has the means to develop its own nuclear weapons.

"South Korea is sixth in the world in nuclear power," Cheong said. "And the country is capable of building some 5,000 nuclear weapons."
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