Additional Patriot missile systems deployed in South Korea
In this Jan. 10, 2016, photo, U.S. Patriot missiles are seen at the Osan U.S. Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. The United States said Saturday it temporarily deployed an additional Patriot missile battery in South Korea in response to North Korea's nuclear test and a long-range rocket launch, ahead of talks next week to set up an even more sophisticated U.S. missile defense in a move that has worried China and Russia./ AP-Yonhap
The United States has deployed additional Patriot missile systems in South Korea in the latest move to counter North Korea’s provocative steps, United States Forces Korea (USFK) said Saturday.
The USFK made the announcement, saying that stationing the Patriot missile systems in South Korea is part of a readiness exercise being carried out in response to Pyongyang’s long-range rocket launch on Feb. 7.
The communist regime’s rocket launch followed its fourth explosion of a nuclear device on Jan. 6, the combination of which has skyrocketed tension on the Korean Peninsula.
The Patriot missiles from D Battery of the 1-43 Air Defense Artillery unit stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas, United States, have been joined with two existing batteries at Osan Air Base, South Korea. The 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade at Osan, some 55 kilometers south of the capital city, has 96 PAC-2 and PAC-3 Patriot missiles.
The Patriot missiles, with a top speed of Mach 3.5 to 5, can reach an altitude of 40 kilometers to intercept North Korea's short-range KN-01 and KN-02 missiles as well as the longer range Scud and Rodong systems that can target all of South Korea.
South Korea, which currently has the PAC-2 air defense system, is looking to upgrade it by 2020 because of the continuing military threats from North Korea.