S.Korea launches de facto THAAD deployment despite continued oppositions

South Korea has hurriedly launched the process of deploying a US missile shield to its soil despite continued, repeated oppositions from neighboring countries and residents.


The defense ministry Tuesday said two mobile launchers and part of equipments necessary for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) installation arrived in the Osan Air Base, about 70 km south of capital Seoul, at Monday night.

THAAD is composed of six mobile launchers, 48 interceptors, one X-band radar and the fire and control unit.

The first THAAD elements were transported from Fort Bliss, Texas through the C-17 transport aircraft, and then moved to an unidentified military base in South Korea of the US Forces Korea (USFK).

The US forces are known to operate six THAAD batteries, including a battery installed in the US island of Guam. It is alleged that one of the five batteries in Texas will be moved to the golf course in southeast South Korea.
  [Xinhua/China]
7/3/17