Donald Trump has asked that South Korea pays for the $1 billion missile defense system that both countries are installing in South Korea as a defence against North Korea. The Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system was recently delivered to South Korea, a move that angered China.
In an interview with Reuters, Donald Trump was quoted to have said;
I informed South Korea it would be appropriate if they paid. It's a billion-dollar system - It's phenomenal, shoots missiles right out of the sky.
Both countries have been allies against the threat of North Korea missile system. The US and North Korea have been allies since the since the 1950-53 Korean war, and more than 28,000 US troops are stationed in South Korea.
Seoul who seems not to be happy with the change in policy said that according to the Status of Forces Agreement that governs the US military presence in its country, the US agrees to provide the THAAD system, while South Korea provides the site and location for which the system will be installed.
Trump has said that no option is off the table against the North Korea regime, and recently just said there is a chance" of "a major, major conflict" with the North, something China and Japan would try to avoid, and also might cause great casualties to the South.
US Pacific Command chief Admiral Harry Harris earlier this week has said that the US wanted to bring the North Korea leader to its senses, and not his knees.
The THAAD system is designed to intercept and destroy medium-range ballistic missiles during their final phase of flight.