Carrefour's Beijing Stores Halt Purchase of Korean Dairy Products

 The Korean Herald reports that the reason why the Carrefour stores in Beijing have suspended their purchase of Korean dairy products is unknown, but it came as China is stepping up its retaliatory measures against South Korea's decision to install an advanced US missile defense system, or THAAD.

An official at a local distributor said, "We received a notification from a Carrefour official that (Carrefour) won't receive deliveries of Korean dairy goods, including milk."

The Carrefour official did not elaborate, but the measure was taken after an "order from above."

An official at another local distributor said Carrefour's stores in Beijing may halt purchases of other South Korean goods, including dairy products.

China has reportedly banned its tourism agencies from selling tour packages to South Korea since the deployment of the THAAD was confirmed in November last year.

South Korean companies, including Lotte, have seen their business conditions in China deteriorate due to Beijing's inspections against them.

For South Korea, the decision to adopt the US missile system was based on its national security interests to enhance its defense posture against North Korea's advances in nuclear and missile programs.

Russia and China have long voiced opposition to the deployment of a THAAD battery to South Korea, claiming that the US missile shield may undermine the strategic balance in the region.

South Korea and the US have dismissed the concerns, saying the THAAD system is defensive in nature and would only target North Korea.

TheCattleSite News Desk