Decision on missile defense to be Seoul's alone

The Republic of Korea's defense ministry said on Tuesday that it will decide on whether to deploy the advanced US missile defense system on the Korean Peninsula based "on its own judgment".

Defense ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok told a press briefing that though neighboring countries can have their own positions on the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense deployment by the US Forces Korea, the country's neighbors "should not try to exercise their influence on our national defense and security policy".

The advanced US missile defense system, developed by US-based Lockheed Martin, was designed to intercept ballistic missiles at an altitude of 40 to 150 km.