Anchor: Concerns have been rising that the deployment of U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense(THAAD) missile interceptors in South Korea could be delayed due to China’s actions deemed to be taken in retaliation. Lotte Group, which owns the property designated as the candidate site for the THAAD battery, is holding back on a land swap deal with the South Korean military, apparently due to its concern over China’s possible retaliatory measures.
Mina Cha has more. 
 
Report: The Defense Ministry and Lotte Group agreed to swap a golf course in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province with military-owned property in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province for the U.S. to set up its THAAD missiles. 

As the market appraisal of the candidate site has been completed, the deal will be officially sealed if Lotte's board of directors approve the swap.

But Defense Ministry Spokesman Moon Sang-gyun on Monday acknowledged that the actual exchange may be delayed.
 
[Sound bite: Moon Sang-gyun, Defense Ministry Spokesman (Korean)]
“I said earlier that (the land swap deal) will be made by late January, but there is a possibility it will be delayed a bit.”
 
Lotte is delaying a board meeting, disrupting the ministry’s goal to have the deal officially signed by this month before the Lunar  New Year holiday.

The conglomerate appears to be concerned about China’s possible retaliation.

Lotte’s factories and workplaces in China already became the subject of unexpected inspections by the Chinese tax, fire and health authorities last November.

As Lotte is hesitant about the deal, Defense Minister Han Min-koo began directly talking with the group about the importance of the land swap deal.

The ministry said that it will install THAAD regardless of Beijing's opposition, but the prospect of having the land swap deal reached before the Lunar New Year has become questionable.

The ministry and Lotte agreed on the land swap deal in mid-November.
Mina Cha, KBS World Radio News.

[Photo : ]