NK Responds to THAAD

[Anchor Lead]

North Korea has sharply criticized the South Korean government over the announcement of the site for the missile defense system THAAD. Pyongyang said that Seoul will pay a high price for its decision. Here’s more.

[Pkg]

The day after Seoul announced the site for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system or THAAD, Pyongyang made its first official response. North Korea blasted the South for its decision to deploy THAAD system by all means.

[Soundbite] Statement by Committee for Peaceful Reunification of Korea : "It was a despicable act of letting our precious national territory become the site of power struggle among powerful nations and letting foreigners decide the fate of our nation."

Pyongyang said that President Park Geun-hye will pay a high price for letting the Korean Peninsula become home to foreign nuclear arms.

Pyongyang also mentioned opposition from the South Korean public by saying that South Koreans must fight against the government's decision fiercely. On July 11 the North threatened to take physical action the moment Seoul finalizes the site for the THAAD system.