<Anchor>

The US Defense Secretary said yesterday that he wanted to deploy a medium-range missile in Asia, but White House National Security Advisor Bolton went out and said it was to defend Korea and Japan. Then, China and Russia reacted strongly.

This is correspondent for Beijing Song-wook.

<Reporter>

White House National Security Advisor Bolton cited China as one of the reasons the United States withdrew from the mid-range nuclear power treaty.

China without the treaty deployed thousands of medium-range missiles without any restrictions.

He stressed that the purpose of reviewing medium-range missile deployments in Asia is to defend allies, including South Korea and Japan.

Bolton pointed out South Korea and Japan's defenses that the United States had missile deployments in mind for Korea and Japan.

China, which was keen on deploying interceptor missiles, set its sights on whether it is an attack missile this time.

[Pu Chong / Director of the Arms Control Bureau of the Chinese Foreign Ministry: If the United States deploys a medium-range ground-fired missile, China will not stand still and will have to take countermeasures.]

Chinese state media have picked up South Korea and Japan and warned them: "Don't be the bullet in the United States," and "there will be more serious than the Sadd."

Russia has stressed that countries deploying US missiles will be Russia's nuclear target.

The Korean government has said that there has been no discussion of missile deployment with the United States and no plans for the future.

But the United States is in a position to discuss its placement with its allies.

It's an explosive issue, so it looks like you need to be prepared.

(Video coverage: Choi Deokhyun, Video editing: Youngtaek Oh)