Anchor: On Friday China expressed its strong opposition to the deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense(THAAD) battery in South Korea. Now a U.S. State Department spokesman has offered reassurances that this is a defensive move only and has said the U.S. is willing to hold talks with China.
Kim Bumsoo has more.
 
Report: Washington is trying to ease Beijing's concerns over the U.S. deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense(THAAD) battery on the Korean Peninsula.
 
Following Friday's announcement of the decision to install the advanced missile defense system in South Korea, the U.S. State Department spokesman told reporters that THAAD is purely defensive.
 
[Sound bite: U.S. State Department Spokesman John Kirby (English)]
"There’s no reason why this deployment should be of concern to Chinese leaders since it is a purely defensive measure and because the North Korea – because the North continues to pose such a real and significant threat to South Korea."
 
Spokesman John Kirby stressed that Washington is willing to discuss the matter further with Chinese officials, noting that informative briefings have already been provided to the concerned counterpart.
 
The Pentagon also released a statement, assuring again that THAAD will not be aimed at any third country. In the U.S. Congress, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce said in a statement that the interceptors will help protect against Kim Jong Un’s illicit weapons programs. 
 
Remarks came in response to statements from the Beijing Foreign Ministry that the planned installment of an American MD system in such a close proximity might jeopardize China's national interest.
 
[Sound bite: Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei (Chinese)]
"China strongly urges the US and the ROK to halt the process of deploying the system and refrain from complicating the regional situation or undermining China’s strategic security interests."
 
Despite Washington's efforts to reduce worries, Russian government officials have also hinted at the possibility of collaborating with their Chinese counterparts, saying THAAD could be a stumbling block in achieving denuclearization and other pending issues in the East Asian region.
Kim Bum-soo, KBS World Radio News.