The decision by the ruling Minjoo Party in the Republic of Korea to push for a parliamentary hearing on the controversial deployment of a US missile defense system in the ROK is an important step toward de-escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

It is also a welcome signal sent by the new ROK President Moon Jae-in that he wants to improve ties with China.

As the United States and the ROK accelerated the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system in the ROK last month, the tense atmosphere on the peninsula worsened and the confrontation between the various parties became more acute.