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| / Captured from Osan Air Base YouTube page |
By Park Si-soo
The U.S forces have brought parts of the controversial THAAD anti-ballistic missile defense system to South Korea, said the defense ministry on Tuesday in an earlier-than-expected deployment that will fuel China's indignation toward the country.
Two THAAD missile launchers are among the parts airlifted to Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek on Monday using a C-17 military cargo plane, according to the ministry. The parts will be transported to a designated site in Seongju, North Gyeongsang province, the ministry said, adding more parts will come soon to complete the THAAD missile defense system and make it operational by April.
"U.S. Pacific Command deployed the first elements of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system to the Republic of Korea, March 6, implementing the U.S.-ROK Alliances July 2016 decision to bring the defense capability to the peninsula," the U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) said in a statement. "THAAD system contributes to a layered missile defense system and enhances the US-ROK Alliance's defense against North Korean missile threats."
The first batch of deployment was made on the same day when North Korea fired off four ballistic missiles in protest against the ongoing military drills between Seoul and Washington.
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| / Yonhap |
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