ARIRANG NEWS 20:00
Washington′s possible deployment of its missile defense system in South Korea is expected to hijack the first foreign ministers′ meeting in three years between South Korea, China and Japan this weekend.
The Korean government announces a 10 trillion won stimulus package to pick up the pace in the country′s economic recovery.
Bank of Korea Governor Lee Ju-yeol says the U.S. Fed′s dovish stance actually increases uncertainty for Korea′s policymakers.
Hello and welcome to Arirang News. Thanks for tuning in. Live from Seoul, I′m Kang Chery.
Title: USFK commander calls for ′layered′ missile defense capability
We begin with another hint that the U.S. might be mulling over deploying its missile defense system called THAAD to South Korea.
The word out of Washington is that... the top U.S. military general in South Korea has called for a
"layered" missile defense capability in the South.
Kim Hyun-bin has our top story.
The commander of U.S. Forces Korea is calling on Seoul and Washington to implement a "layered" ballistic missile defense capability,... in another strong signal that the U.S. is keen to deploy its THAAD system to the Korean peninsula.
In a written testimony to the U.S. House appropriations subcommittee on defense on Thursday, General Curtis Scaparrotti stressed the need for a ballistic missile defense capability in South Korea due to the threat posed by North Korea.
On the same day,... an official from the U.S. Defense Department said Washington is prepared to hold official talks with Seoul about the possible deployment of THAAD as there have been no formal consultations thus far.
The ongoing speculation about the possible deployment of THAAD to South Korea has stirred controversy inside and outside of Korea.
China and Russia are deeply opposed to THAAD being on their regional doorstep,... saying it would infringe upon their national security.
On the other hand,... its supporters say THAAD would counter North Korea′s increasing ballistic and missile threats.
The U.S. also believes the threat posed by North Korea has become even more acute.
Scaparrotti says that Pyongyang has the ability to produce a miniaturized nuclear warhead that can be mounted on top of a ballistic missile.
North Korea has conducted three nuclear bomb tests,... the first in 2006, the second in 2009, and the most recent coming in February 2013.
Experts predict a potential fourth testing would be to test a miniaturized warhead.
Kim Hyun-bin, Arirang News.
Title: Chinese FM may reiterate concerns about THAAD in Seoul: experts
And the possible deployment of THAAD is widely expected to hijack the first foreign ministers′ meeting in three years between South Korea, China and Japan... this weekend.
Hwang Sung-hee has a preview.
When the top diplomats from Korea, China and Japan meet on Saturday, they will discuss ways to restore trilateral cooperation amid strained relations.
Tangled in territorial
