Seoul Not to Consider Other Stance on US Air Defense System Deployment

South Korea is about of deploying US THAAD missile defense systems on its soil despite neighboring countries' stance, local media reported Friday.

TOKYO (Sputnik) — The South Korean government will not consider neighboring countries' stance on the deployment of US THAAD missile defense systems on its soil, local media reported Friday, citing a source in the country's Defense Ministry.

On Monday, the Pentagon said Seoul and Washington would begin talks on the deployment of THAAD anti-ballistic missile system to South Korea in the coming days. The move came after North Korea fired a long-range rocket to allegedly place a satellite into orbit, defying UN Security Council resolutions.

"Considering the stances of neighboring countries when (South Korea) picking an area to host the THAAD is not militarily (right)," the source told the South Korean Yonhap news agency.

The source stressed that Seoul would choose where the defense system should be located from the point of view of its military effectiveness, adding that the deployment would not "necessarily mean South Korea joins the U.S. missile defense system."

Following the announcement about the possible system deployment, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Beijing was seriously concerned by the matter. The Russian Foreign Ministry also expressed concern over Seoul's decision.