Resolved: Deployment of anti-missile systems is in South Korea"s best interest.

Hello this is the national public forum topic. I will go pro and affirm that deployment of anti-missle systems is in SK's best interest. SK- South Korea NK- North Korea ROK-Republic of Korea This really is a major issue today as NK is increasing its nuclear arsenal. I will present my case in this argument round. In a normal PF round, there would be no rebuttal in case presentation, but anything goes. Accept and present your case. Do your worst XD I affirm the resolution my sole contention is Increased Diplomacy in East Asia First, we increase diplomacy in the region by boosting our alliances. Alliances are especially critical inside the status quo now because the New York Times explains: North Korea didn"t test an ICBM to launch a bolt from the blue against Washington; they"re hoping to split the United States from its allies." North Korea could use a nuclear-tipped ICBM capability to "target the United States and deter U.S. security cooperation with its close Asian allies." However, deploying antimissile systems strengthens the US-South Korea alliance. Brookings concurs, Cooperative defense against North Korean missiles is an expanding component of alliance cooperation. Missile deployment would greatly enhance the alliance's ability to intercept and destroy North Korean missiles and set the stage for broader U.S.-ROK cooperation. We must ensure that we can protect South Korea, because The Atlantic furthers, Scaling back the US-South Korea alliance would potentially destabilize Asia and beyond. Pyongyang would be emboldened to continue trying to blackmail the United States, South Korea, and Japan, leading to future crises. In the face of a U.S. withdrawal, both Seoul and Tokyo would immediately begin considering developing their own nuclear and missile programs, instigating a nuclear-arms race that would spill over to China, Taiwan, and possibly beyond. If Asian partners and adversaries believe that America"s behavior towards Pyongyang indicates that it is unwilling to risk a real confrontation, they may begin hedging against a perceived U.S. impotence. The Congressional Research Service concurs, South Korea developing nuclear weapons could mean diminished U.S. influence in Asia, the unraveling of the U.S. alliance system, and the possibility of creating a destabilizing nuclear arms race in Asia. Commanding General Keith Stalder explains, Our friends want to remain firmly in our corner, but if they suspect that the United States is not able to ensure security in Asia, they are going to drastically increase their defense budgets leading to a regional arms race. These developments would be a very serious threat to the prosperity and stability of the region. Gibler quantifies, under an arms race, the chance of an interstate conflict increases from 1 in 100 to 1 in 20. Kazianis explains: Know this: if Pyongyang decided to launch a salvo of nuclear armed missiles towards Seoul, Tokyo, U.S. military bases or the homeland, the carnage unleashed would be unlike anything we have seen since the days of World War II. In such a scenario, millions upon millions of people (8 million dead) could die or become the victims of radioactive fallout, whose injuries could lay dormant for years. It would be, per one senior Pentagon official I spoke to last week, "as if Lucifer opened the gates of hell." To protect our alliances, which are key to deterring an arms race, I strongly suggest an affirmative ballot. Please affirm.