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| A military truck carrying equipment for a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system enters a THAAD base under police protection in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Friday. Yonhap |
By Yi Whan-woo
South Korea and the United States brought in updated interceptor missiles onto a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile base in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province in a surprise operation, Friday.
The operation took place as anti-THAAD protests have persisted, while China, despite reconciliation with the South, continues to protest the presence of the U.S missile shield here.
The Ministry of National Defense said the ground transportation operation, which began Thursday night and ended around 6 a.m., was to minimize friction with protesters opposed to THAAD.
The operation was to replace the older missiles, a power generator, electronic devices, and construction equipment needed for the battery as well as to improve living conditions of troops at the base. Multiple military and foreign ministry officials said Seoul notified Beijing about the operation in advance through "various channels" and "asked for Beijing's understanding."
"The new missiles are of the same type that the U.S. Forces Korea (UFSK) currently operates. As the mission was to replace expired ones, the number of updated ones is exactly the same as those to be taken out of the base," a defense ministry official said on condition of anonymity, The official did not elaborate on how many missiles were replaced.
Due to attempts by protesters to block people bringing in the equipment and other supplies to the base, the two allies usually used air transportation to move supplies.
Regarding the method of shipment this time, the official said it was made by ground as some of the items were too heavy and large to be airlifted.
The official also said the operation has nothing to do with the U.S. move improve its seven THAAD batteries in the region, including the one in Seongju.
Another ministry said the issue has been "fully explained to China."
Meanwhile, the USFK said in a statement it "periodically conducts vehicular resupply and support missions to its formations and installations across South Korea."
It said the move was to maintain a high "fight tonight" readiness level and to provide a robust combined defense posture to protect South Korea against any threat or adversary.
The USFK added the allies "have maintained close coordination, cooperation and collaborative efforts to ensure this mission is conducted to minimize and prevent any inconvenience in the least disruptive manner for the local Korean population and all parties involved."
The anti-THAAD protesters have cited environmental concerns in their opposition, and that the Moon Jae-in administration has scaled up the environmental study on the THAAD base.
China has stated that the THAAD deployment is against its national interests, and took retaliatory measures against Korean businesses after its initial deployment in 2017.
Seoul and Washington have stressed THAAD is to only intended to better cope with the growing missile threats posed by Pyongyang.
