China points out Korea's "immigration restriction visa" and "third placement" ... "Should not be obstacle to China-Korea relations"

Amid the conflict between China and South Korea over “entry visa restrictions,” China also threw a diversionary ball against South Korea's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system.

At a regular press conference on January 13th, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China responded to a question from a Chinese reporter asking for a comment on a South Korean media report stating, "As early as March, the procedures for the official placement of Saad in South Korea will be completed." China is paying close attention to South Korea's developments regarding the third party and maintains close communication with South Korea at all levels.

He continued, "Based on the joint understanding that South Korea reached the foreign ministers' meeting held in Qingdao last August, we will continue to properly handle, manage and control this issue so that it does not hinder the development of bilateral relations."

The 'joint recognition regarding the sado' refers to a meeting between South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin and China's then-Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who said, "We agreed that the sado issue should not become an impediment to the development of relations." It seems to mean the contents of the announcement of both sides.

Its government was controversial for claiming at a press conference after the foreign ministers' meeting last August that "South Korea has declared the former three non-participation in the deployment of the third missile (non-positioning of an additional third missile, non-participation in the US missile defence system, and non-participation in the Japan-US-ROK triangular military alliance) as well as the first limit (limiting the operation of the third missile, which is already deployed in South Korea). This is drawing controversy.

A spokesperson for the South Korean Ministry of National Defense said at a regular press conference on January 10th, "We are currently preparing a draft environmental impact assessment report for the Saad base in Seongju, and we will be disclosing the draft in accordance with laws and procedures. A public hearing will be held", he said. As a result, the South Korean media reported that the procedures planned by the Ministry of National Defense would be completed within March at the earliest due to the formal deployment of the Saad, which is currently in a temporary operational state.