Discussions held at seminar in Beijing over bilateral relations in light of missile deployment

The controversy surrounding the China visit of six lawmakers from the Republic of Korea demonstrates split opinion and the opposition ROK President Park Geun-hye faces in her decision to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system.

The six anti-THAAD lawmakers from the main opposition Minju Party of Korea, all in their first terms in the National Assembly, embarked on a three-day visit to Beijing on Monday. They attended a closed-door seminar on Chinese-ROK ties organized by the Chinese think tank Pangoal Institution on Tuesday.

Representatives from both sides had "in-depth, candid" discussions on certain bilateral issues, exchanged their opinions, and offered "constructive suggestions" to improve Beijing-Seoul ties, according to a brief statement issued after the meeting that included Chinese scholars and the visiting lawmakers.

No further comments were made by either side. The seminar was not open to the press at the request of the ROK's side.

Previous reports said they planned to discuss the deployment of the THAAD anti-missile system in the ROK with Chinese officials and scholars.

The six lawmakers faced strong opposition from the ROK's presidential office and media outlets before their visit to Beijing.

Park had urged the lawmakers to scrap the trip, which they said was made to discuss ways to prevent bilateral relations from deteriorating further, calling the missile system counterproductive.

During her meeting with senior presidential secretaries on Monday, Park denounced the visit because it further split public opinion over the THAAD deployment.

Park said she is ready to receive any criticism, as she believes THAAD is aimed at protecting South Koreans from nuclear and missile threats from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Wang Junsheng, a researcher in Asia-Pacific strategy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the lawmakers' visit mirrors the rifts over THAAD's deployment in the ROK, as opposition has been noted from not only politicians, but also local governments and residents.

"The visiting ROK lawmakers represent their voice, and they are here for the friendship between China and the ROK and their country's nation interests," Wang said.

"Their trip highlights the importance of high-level bilateral exchanges, which are now plunging into a chill, and the need to reduce strategic misunderstandings," he said.

Xinhua contributed to this story.