The U.S. military’s installation of the THAAD battery in South Korea has been hotly contested. China considers the system a threat to its own security, while critics in South Korea allege that the United States is scrambling to set up the system before that country can hold a presidential election that might lead to a decision to halt its use altogether.

AD

AD

The scrutiny of the THAAD installation, which has been under discussion with Seoul for years, reflects heightened tensions over North Korea’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs, which have made advances in recent years and which American officials fear could reach the point of posing a nuclear threat to the mainland United States.

The Trump administration has made a range of statements about its military posture toward North Korea and its willingness to employ force to prevent the continuation of Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program. In an interview made public Monday, President Trump said he would be “honored” to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un under the right circumstances. A day earlier, he refused to rule out military action against Pyongyang.

The THAAD system has taken on new urgency for the United States as South Korea approaches its May 9 election. The leading candidate in that race has said he would review the previous government’s acceptance of THAAD.

AD

AD

Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, Trump’s national security adviser, suggested Sunday that the United States might in the future ask South Korea to reimburse the United States for at least some of the THAAD system.

“What I told our South Korean counterpart is until any renegotiation, that the deal is in place. We’ll adhere to our word,” McMaster said, referring to a recent conversation with a senior South Korean official.