Seoul dismisses Beijing’s concerns over anti-missile system

By KIM TONG-HYUNG
Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s government has stressed it will make its own decisions in strengthening its defenses against North Korean threats, rejecting Chinese calls that it continue the polices of Seoul’s previous government that refrained from adding more U.S. anti-missile batteries that are strongly opposed by Beijing. The differences between South Korea and China underscore a reemerging rift between the countries just a day after their top diplomats met in eastern China and expressed hope that the issue wouldn’t become a “stumbling stone” in relations.