Politics
07:57, 07-Sep-2017
Four more THAAD launchers enter military base in South Korea amid local protests
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Four more rocket launchers for the US-backed Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system were deployed on Thursday morning in Seongju, some 300 kilometers south of Seoul, amid local protests.
It signaled that the deployment of the controversial defense system has been completed, roughly 14 months after the deal was made between Seoul and Washington.
Dozens of protesters were injured in clashes with police as demonstrators took to the streets of Seongju to oppose the deployment.
Local residents fear that the system would turn the town into a target for attacks from Pyongyang. "We cannot accept THAAD under any conditions," Yonhap quoted a local official as saying.
Police were dispatched to the area near the deployment site./CGTN Photo
Police were dispatched to the area near the deployment site./CGTN Photo
The deployment process began in March, when two mobile launchers and other equipment relating to the US missile shield, were transported to the Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek by a US C-17 transport airplane.
China has been opposing the deployment of THAAD in South Korea.
"China strongly urges the US and South Korea to stop the THAAD deployment process immediately, remove all related equipment and pay more attention to the security interests and concerns of other countries, including China," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang on Wednesday.
1132km