US Urges Seoul to Bolster Missile Defense

Lt. Gen. Walter Sharp, selected to take over U.S. troops in South Korea, called on Seoul Thursday to develop its missile defense system to be interoperable with the U.S. ballistic missile defense (BMD) network to thwart North Korea's missile threat.

Sharp's remarks are the latest U.S. push for Seoul to join the advanced BMD system, which South Korean liberal lawmakers and progressive civic groups have vehemently opposed.

In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sharp said South Korea should build a ``layered'' defense system including airborne lasers and advanced Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile systems.

Read more