S. Korea, US to go all out to verify THAAD radar safety

South Korea and the United States will go all out to verify that the powerful radar used in the advanced anti-ballistic missile shield poses no health risks, the military said Sunday.

Last week the allies picked Seongju county in North Gyeongsang Province, as the location for the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system.

Seoul and Washington said the location, 296 kilometers southeast of Seoul, is an ideal spot to guard key South Korean and U.S. military installations from evolving North Korean nuclear and missile capabilities. Residents in the region, however, have risen up in protest, claiming the AN/TPY-2 radar can cause cancer, infertility and hurt their crops.

"To alleviate all concerns, an evaluation on health risks and environmental impact will be carried out during the construction of the THAAD site, as well as after the system is in place," a military source stressed.

He said talks are planned with the U.S. to ensure that regular evaluations on the environmental impact can be carried out at the 110,000-square-meter installation. The official said such a move is unprecedented and reflects the importance the government places on laying to rest public fears.

"No other military radar installation has been checked in this manner," said the insider, who declined to be identified. At present, military installations can be exempted from Seoul's environmental evaluation law because they are restricted areas. (Yonhap)