China and Russia have agreed to enhance their coordinated efforts to oppose the US' controversial plan to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) missile system in South Korea.

Beijing and Moscow will "continue to strengthen their coordinated opposition to THAAD," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. The statement comes after the meeting between China's Assistant Minister Kong Xuanyou and Russia's Deputy Foreign Ministry Igor Morgulov in Beijing on Tuesday.

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The Russian Foreign Ministry, on the other hand, said that the two countries are emphasizing that "collective political and diplomatic efforts should be stepped up to ease tensions and initiate the process of military and political détente across the board in Northeast Asia."

The statement further added that the THAAD deployment would not "create conditions conducive to resolving the nuclear issue, as well as other issues, on the Korean Peninsula."

The strengthening between the two countries also comes less than a day after the South Korean government signed a land swap deal with giant retailer Lotte. Under the agreement, Lotte will give up its golf course in Seongju region for a military-owned land near Seoul.

For Washington and Seoul, the THAAD would only serve as a countermeasure against North Korea's ballistic missiles. South Korean authorities said the THAAD deployment is purely a defensive measure against Pyongyang's threat and does not aim to target any other nations.

China and Russia, on the other hand, believe that the deployment would only destabilize the Korean Peninsula and that THAAD's powerful radar system could penetrate their territory and threaten the security of regional countries. Both countries have repeatedly urged Seoul and Washington to abandon their plan, with China giving warning of "consequences."

Tagschina, Russia, South Korea, US, THAAD, Ballistic missile, North Korea