China reiterates opposition to THAAD deployment in S. Korea

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) meets with his South Korean counterpart Yun Byung-se on the sidelines of the 53rd Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany on Feb. 18, 2017. (Xinhua/Luo Huanhuan)

China on Saturday voiced its opposition to the U.S. deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), a high-end U.S. missile defense system, in the Republic of Korea (ROK), urging respect from the ROK.

The move came as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his ROK counterpart Yun Byung-se on the sidelines of the ongoing Munich Security Conference.

Wang stressed that the security of a nation should not be achieved at the expense of others' security, urging both countries to "remove obstacles" to ensure the healthy development of their bilateral relations.

Regarding the Korean Peninsula issue, Wang said although the situation on the peninsula is getting complicated and severe, efforts to seek peace should not be abandoned.

All related sides, while strictly carrying out the UN resolutions, should also actively explore the resumption of negotiation, he said. "We should end the negative self-reinforcing cycle of the nuclear issue on the peninsula."