South Korea can expect Chinese opposition if it allows American defence system to be deployed on its soil

The United States has opened the door to parking a ballistic missile defence system on North Korea’s doorstep, a move that could reshape North Asia’s security landscape.

Kim Jong Un’s weekend launch of a long-range rocket prompted a reaction that his nuclear test last month did not: South Korea now says it will consider allowing the deployment on its soil of a US army system known as Thaad.

… “The Chinese are doing anything possible to head off what they think might be a potential weapon that could be used against them,” said Richard Bitzinger, a senior fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. “You can say everything you want, that this is not directed against the Chinese, but the fact of the matter is, it potentially could be.”