China shuns Seoul security dialogue amid missile defense row

In this Friday, July 15, 2016 file photo, members of the Korean Veterans Association salute during a rally to support a deployment of the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, in front of the Defense Ministry in Seoul, South Korea. Chinese anger at South Korea over its decision to deploy an US anti-missile defense system appears to be threatening everything from appearances by the stars of K-Pop to future cooperation on North Korea at the United Nations. The signs read “Support a deployment of the THAAD.” AP FILE PHOTO

BEIJING — China is shunning a security dialogue in Seoul amid an ongoing row over South Korea’s decision to deploy a powerful US missile defense system.

The official newspaper Global Times quoted an unidentified Defense Ministry spokesman as saying China was not sending a delegation to this week’s Seoul Defense Dialogue because of “reasons of work arrangement.” It offered no other details.

READ: China thwarts UN condemnation of North Korea missile launch

China opposes the deployment of the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, whose radars it says will allow the US military to peer deep into northeastern China. Seoul and Washington say the system is intended solely to defend against North Korea’s missile threat.

China elevated the issue on Monday, with President Xi Jinping expressing China’s opposition directly in a meeting with his South Korean counterpart Park Geun-hye.