How did Moon Jae-In’s position on THAAD change in 2017?

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During his 2017 presidential campaign, Moon Jae-In opposed the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. Following his inauguration, he initially acted on this stance by suspending the installation of additional launchers in June 2017.1

However, Moon’s position underwent a dramatic reversal in late July 2017. Following a second intercontinental ballistic missile launch by North Korea, he announced that his administration would work with the United States to deploy the full THAAD system. This shift reflected his commitment to maintaining a strong national defense in the face of mounting regional tensions, despite the move carrying significant political risks, including potential alienation of allies within his own party and further strain on relations with China.1