By Zhang Yuanyong and Chen Yue

张元勇 陈 岳

The ROK Ministry of Environment on June 21 officially approved the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report on the US's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system at the US military base in Seongju county submitted by ROK Defense Ministry in May. This means that since THAAD's temporary deployment in the country in 2017, all the administrative procedures needed for base construction have now been completed and construction work will kick off soon on a full scale.

6月21日，韩国环境部正式批准国防部于5月提交的星州郡“萨德”基地环评报告。这意味着自2017年“萨德”反导系统在韩国临时部署以来，其基地建设所需的各项行政程序均已完成，相关基建工作将全面启动。

As an important component of America's current missile defense system, THAAD can intercept ballistic missiles at altitudes of 40-150 km and ranges of up to 200 km, boasting a stronger intercepting ability and wider defense radius than the Patriot missile defense system.

 “萨德”反导系统，是美国现行导弹防御体系的重要组成部分，可在200千米范围内拦截高度达40至150千米的弹道导弹，比“爱国者”防空系统的拦截能力更强、防御覆盖面更大。

In 2016, the US and the ROK agreed to deploy THAAD in the latter on the grounds of countering nuclear missile threats from the DPRK, and six launching vehicles were stationed the next year. Due to continuous protests within the country and strong objections from surrounding countries, the Moon Jae-in administration halted in November 2017 the work on bringing the THAAD base to normal operation.

2016年，美国以应对朝鲜核导弹威胁为由，与韩国商定在韩部署“萨德”反导系统，并于次年临时部署6辆发射车。由于韩国国内持续抗议和周边国家强烈反对，2017年11月，文在寅政府暂停推进“萨德”基地正常化运行事宜。

The incumbent Yoon Suk-yeol administration has mentioned THAAD multiple times since 2022. When running for office, he said he would continue to place the THAAD system in the country in light of its actual national security needs, and re-activated the THAAD base normalization process that has been on hold for nearly five years right after he took office.

自2022年以来，新上任的尹锡悦政府多次提及有关“萨德”的话题。他在竞选时就声称，将根据韩国的国家安全需求追加部署“萨德”反导系统，并于上任后开始推进搁置近5年的“萨德”基地正常化运行。

In August 2022, ROK set in motion the EIA procedures for the THAAD base; in September, it pledged to allocate another 400,000 m² land for the base; in December, it said all procedures, including the EIA, provision of additional land, and equipment transportation, would be completed in three months; in February this year, the draft EIA report came out; on March 24, the ROK and American troops had the first deployment training of THAAD "remote" launcher, marking the system's normal combat-readiness and operation. The latest approval of the EIA report officially kicked off the base construction and the THAAD system will shift from temporary deployment to normal combat status.

2022年8月，韩国启动“萨德”基地环评程序。9月，韩国承诺将为“萨德”基地再提供40万平方米土地。12月，韩国表示3个月内可完成环评、二次供地、装备运送等所有程序。今年2月，环评报告草案出炉。3月24日，韩美两军首次进行“萨德”反导系统远程遥控式发射架的调遣训练，实现了该系统的作战与操作正常化。此次环评报告获批后，基地建设工作将正式启动，“萨德”反导系统也将从临时部署转为正常作战部署状态。

The Yoon Suk-yeol administration accelerates the normal operation of THAAD base for several reasons.

尹锡悦政府加速推进“萨德”基地正常化运行，有多重考虑。

First, it wishes to consolidate the alliance with the US. Seoul sees US-ROK alliance as the pillar of its national security and always puts Washington at the core of its diplomatic strategy. After Yoon Suk-yeol took power, he made strengthening bilateral alliance the focus of its diplomatic policy. As this year marks the 70th anniversary of their alliance, both countries have vowed to upgrade and transform their relationship at the new historical starting point, underscored by a series of activities including joint military exercises, meeting between top leaders, and release of statements. As an outcome of the heads-of-state summit, pushing the normal operation of THAAD base will substantially uplift their relationship from a military security alliance to a global, comprehensive one.

首先，巩固韩美同盟关系。韩国一直将韩美同盟视为其国家安全的支柱，在外交领域始终将美国放在核心位置。尹锡悦上任后，更是将加强韩美同盟关系作为其外交政策的重点。今年是韩美同盟建立70周年，两国都明确要在新的历史起点上推动同盟关系升级转型，并举行联合军演、首脑会晤、发表声明等一系列活动。作为韩美首脑会晤的成果之一，推进“萨德”基地正常化运行，将实质性助力韩美关系从军事安全同盟向全球全面战略同盟升级。

Second, it wants the intensify the extended deterrence against DPRK. Extended deterrence is one of the key security commitments that Washington makes to Seoul. In September 2022, the two countries, after four years and eight months, restarted the extended deterrence consultations and got ready to revise the targeted deterrence strategy again. On November 3, the 54th United States (U.S.)-Republic of Korea (ROK) Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) agreed to form a new missile policy consultation mechanism under the US-ROK Deterrence Strategy Committee. On January 31 this year, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin reaffirmed America's security commitment to ROK when paying a visit to the country. Clearly, the THAAD system is not only an important part of America's missile defense system, but also a key means with which the two countries intensify the extended deterrence against Pyongyang.

其次，强化对朝延伸威慑。延伸威慑保护是美国对韩国的重要安全承诺之一。2022年9月，韩美时隔4年零8个月重启延伸威慑战略磋商机制，推动重新修订“针对性威慑战略”。11月3日，第54次韩美安保协商会议商定在韩美威慑战略委员会下，设立新的导弹政策协商机制。今年1月31日，美国国防部长奥斯汀在访问韩国时，重申美国对韩国的安全承诺。“萨德”反导系统作为美国导弹防御体系的重要组成部分，也是韩美强化对朝延伸威慑的重要手段之一。

Third, it has to comply with America's major-country competition strategy. Yoon Suk-yeol has greatly adjusted his foreign policy since coming into office and turned to pro-US value-based diplomacy. By complying with Washington's major-country competition strategy and Indo-Pacific strategy and pushing the normal operation of the THAAD base at a faster pace, Seoul hopes to increase its strategic value to the US and raise its international and regional profile through the connection with Washington.

最后，配合美国的“大国竞争”战略。尹锡悦上台后大幅调整对外政策，主打亲美的“价值观外交”。此次韩国主动配合美国的“大国竞争”和印太战略需要，加速推进“萨德”基地正常化运行，目的是进一步提升自身对美战略价值，倚美提高国际和地区影响力。

ROK being bent on officially deploying THAAD regardless of the vehement opposition from the international community and its own people will intensify tension on the Korean peninsula. Meanwhile, the normal operation of the THAAD system will facilitate the US in integrating its anti-missile systems in Japan, Australia and ROK to perfect its Asian-Pacific missile defense system. That will pave the way for the military integration among Washington, Tokyo and Seoul on the basis of anti-missile cooperation, which will further fan up the Cold War atmosphere of bloc confrontation and jeopardize the strategic balance in the region.

韩国不顾国际社会和国内民众的强烈反对，一意孤行推进“萨德”反导系统的正式部署，将加剧半岛紧张局势。同时，“萨德”反导系统的正常化运行，将为美国整合驻日、驻澳、驻韩等反导体系预留空间，有助于美国完善亚太导弹防御体系，为美日韩以反导合作为牵引推动军事一体化奠定基础，进而不断强化地区冷战化、阵营化氛围，将破坏地区的战略平衡。