The U.S. deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea harms China's strategic security, said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Friday.

"China urges the relevant parties to deal with the issue properly to make sure it does not become a stumbling block affecting bilateral relations between China and South Korea," said Wang Wenbin.

The South Korean government is accelerating efforts to "normalize" the operation of the U.S. base in the southern city of Seongju that deployed the THAAD system.