The top U.S. military officer is in Seoul today... for talks with his South Korean counterpart.
General Martin Dempsey′s trip comes amid heated controversy over the possible deployment of the THAAD missile defense system to South Korea.
Hwang Sung－hee reports. Will the top U.S. military officer address the possible deployment of a controversial U.S. missile defense system in South Korea during his visit to Seoul？
U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Martin Dempsey and his counterpart， Choi Yun－hee， will meet on Friday to discuss pending issues，...such as responding to North Korean threats.
The South Korean military stressed that the deployment of the Terminal High－Altitude Area Defense battery also known as THAAD is not on the agenda.
Although the two allies say there have been no formal discussions， Washington has been pushing the issue， saying THAAD will deter North Korea′s nuclear and missile threats.
Seoul is more cautious， with its neighbors namely China and Russia voicing their opposition.
South Korean Ambassador to the U.S. Ahn Ho－young on Thursday said the decision will be based on Korea′s needs.

″As we are doing with the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank， we will consider various factors and reach a decision that best serves our national interest at an appropriate time.″

North Korea has expressed anger about the proposed defense system， with its foreign ministry warning that the deployment will turn the region into ″a theater of fierce scramble.″
In a statement carried by North Korean state－media on Thursday， the ministry called it Washington′s preparation for a preemptive strike at the North and an attempt to contain China and Russia.
Even if the issue of THAAD doesn′t come up this time， pundits say speculation will resurface when U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter visits South Korea early next month.
Hwang Sung－hee， Arirang News.

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