THAAD Discussions

[Anchor Lead]

President Park Geun-hye has met with parliament members representing Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do Province to discuss the deployment of the U.S. anti-missile defense system THAAD. Park said she's willing to find another location for the anti-missile system within Seongju-gun County to relieve residents' anxiety.

[Pkg]

President Park Geun-hye met with eleven local assemblymen representing Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do Province to discuss the deployment of the anti-missile defense system THAAD two days after she promised to do so. In a meeting that lasted about two hours, the president reportedly stressed the necessity of the THAAD deployment as a way to protect national security and counter North Korea's missile and nuclear threats. The parliamentary members conveyed local residents' concerns over radioactive waves emitted by the anti-missile system.

[Soundbite] Rep. Lee Wan-young(Saenuri Party) : "Seongju residents are strongly opposed because the deployment site is very close to their homes. They can see it from their houses."

Park responded by saying that the radioactive safety of the THAAD system has been cleared and that locals can rest assured about their health. But she added that she could consider another site within Seongju-gun County due to residents' concerns.

[Soundbite] Rep. Kim Jung-jae(Saenuri Party) : "She said she would investigate in-depth any other recommended site in Seongju-gun County and notify the residents about the results in the most accurate and detailed way."

During the meeting, Rep. Lee Wan-young, who has a local constituency in Seongju, asked the president to visit Seongju before her tenure ends. However, Park did not give a concrete answer.