Isabelle Entrekin

Debate
Mr. Low

Con THAAD Speech

Fellow peers and honored judge, during this debate today we shall be discussing the
advantages and disadvantages of deploying the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system
(also known as the THAAD) in South Korea. Due to the recent nuclear war threats from North
Korea, the United States of America decided to launch the $923 million defense system in order
to “protect” South Korea from any short range missiles fired from North Korea. The THAAD is
an American missile defense system designed to intercept short range ballistic missiles. Despite
the fact that this missile is supposed to defend the country, the THAAD does more harm than
protection. Furthermore, the citizens of South Korea don’t want the implementation of the
THAAD and it could also cause a rift with their ties to China and possibly Russia and Japan.
The irony of enforcing the THAAD to defend Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is that it
actually cannot protect the city. The defense system is currently positioned in Seongju County,
a Northern Province in South Korea. Unfortunately, the most populated part of the country is
200 kilometers away from the defense range. In addition, the THAAD can easily be
overwhelmed if a missile is fired below the designated interception altitude. Many spectators
claim that if it doesn’t defend the capital city, then why have it in the first place?
In contrary to the United States, the inhabitants of South Korea are in disagreement with
the utilization of the THAAD. If the people of South Korea, where the want to deploy the
THAAD in, don’t want it, then why inforce it on them? In May, a poll showed that the major of
the koreans disputed the idea of the missile defense system in their country. On Feb. 27,
Soseong-ri has become the front line in the fight against the missile system. On March 18th,
5,000 nationals from South Korea gathered in Seongju to protest the controversial
implementation of the THAAD. “No THAAD, No war” was a common chant seen amongst the
protesters. Many protesters clashed with national police as trailers containing components to the
system entered an installation site.
 The deployment of the THAAD could also lead to loose ties with China, crushing South
Korea’s economy. The concern grows that Beijing may retaliate since China is firmly indifferent
about the THAAD. Over 16.1% of South Korea’s imports come from China, meaning they rely
heavily on China but not the other way around. China has also limited the number of tourists that
enter South Korea by 40%. Because the Chinese tourists who enter South Korea are such big
spenders, the country profited $261 billion just last year. The further along South Korea
continues to deploy the THAAD the more China will continue to cut them off. This could also
lead to Russia cutting South Korea off as well. One reporter claims that the deployment of the
THAAD destroys the strategic balance in the region. Russia has also built up troops in response
to missile defense systems deployed in south Korea. It is not worth the risk for South Korea to
loose their alliance with Russia over a missile defense system that the people don’t even want.
In continuation to breaking ties, the THAAD could also cripple the economy of South
Korea with the costs of the defense systems with additional costs. Not only does the system eat
up the united states 9.4 billion dollars budget a year, the cost of each missile used in the system
costs $1-2 million. According to the Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel “they want to spend $1
billion on 14 more ground-based missile defense interceptors that have never been tested”. These
systems aren’t even 100% accurate. Even though the United States claimed to pay for the costs
of the THAAD, they are pressuring South Korea to “give” around 1 billion dollars to a military
contractor.
These 4 reasons should be enough to convince the United States to discontinue the
missile defense system unless they want to cripple the country instead of helping them.