China and Russia on Friday voiced strong opposition to the deployment of US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile batteries in South Korea, reiterating concerns that the defense system's capabilities could pose a threat to the stability of the region. 

In a press briefing on Monday, foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said China's assistant foreign minister Kong Xuanyou and Russia's deputy foreign minister Igor Morgulov came to an agreement on the issue in Moscow last week.

Like Us on Facebook

Hong said the two diplomats agreed the deployment of the US defense system in the Korean Peninsula would threaten the security of both China and Russia.  "The Chinese and Russian sides are firmly opposed to that," said Hong.

"Grave Threats"

The US and South Korea have commenced formal discussions on the possible deployment of THAAD systems on the Korean Peninsula. Initial talks between the two countries were held in Seoul on Friday ahead of the largest ever US-South Korea joint military exercise to date.

The two-part exercise -- called Key Resolve and Foal Eagle, respectively -- has prompted threats of all-out preemptive strikes from North Korea.

"The army and people of the [North] will take military counteraction for preemptive attack so that they may deal merciless, deadly blows at the enemies," Pyongyang's National Defense Commission said in a statement on Monday.

While some observers have dismissed Pyongyang's threat as mere bluster, political analysts claim this kind of rhetoric -- along with the North's recent nuclear test and rocket launch -- has helped push South Korea into considering the deployment of THAAD batteries within its borders.

"South Korea and the US assess that the North's latest nuclear test and long-range ballistic missile launch demonstrate its grave threats of atomic bombs, weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles to the peace and stability of the peninsula and the entire Asia Pacific region," Seoul's deputy defense minister Yoo Jeh-seung said last month.

"Strong Reactions"

Competing defense and security interests have emerged as countries in the region adjust to North Korea's growing military capabilities.  The issue has driven a wedge between Seoul and Beijing, and sparked an unusually blunt diplomatic dispute.  

Last month, Jung Youn-Kook, a spokesman for South Korea's President Park Geun-hye, told China not to intervene in the talks between the US and South Korea over the possible deployment of the THAAD system.

"This is a matter we will decide according to our own security and national interests," said Jung.  "The Chinese had better recognize this point."

The THAAD missile system is designed to destroy short and medium-range ballistic missiles in the terminal phase of their flight, according to experts.  The system utilizes "hit-to-kill" technology, where kinetic energy destroys incoming enemy warheads.

China and Russia are worried the system's powerful X-band radar and surveillance platforms could provide the US ballistic missile network with tracking data on Russian and Chinese military positions.

These concerns underline the tense diplomatic spat over THAAD and the on-going US-South Korea joint military exercise. 

Key Resolve and Foal Eagle will reportedly involve some 17,000 US forces and 300,000 South Korean troops. 

"We have noted strong reactions from the DPRK side against the military drills," said Hong. "The Chinese side is deeply concerned about the situation." 

TagsChina-Russia relations, China-South Korea relations, Terminal High Altitude Area Defence