Thousands of protesters marched near the US embassy in Seoul on Saturday, accusing President Donald Trump of "forcing" their country to deploy THAAD, the anti-ballistic missile defense system installed in the country by the US. Around 3,000 demonstrators also gathered outside the Seoul metropolitan government building, according to an organizer, composed of advocacy groups and residents living in the THAAD site.

The protest could pose a huge burden for South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who heads to Washington for his first meeting with Trump at a Seoul-Washington summit next week.

Residents of the southeastern county of Seongju, where the controversial system is being deployed, have joined the protest, saying the missile system is a health and environmental hazard. 

THAAD was approved by Moon's ousted predecessor, Park Geun-hye. Parts of the missile system are already in place, but Moon suspended any further work to carry out an environmental impact assessment.

(Source: Xinhua)