South Korea has claimed the THAAD deployment is necessary to counter the growing DPRK threat. But will the anti-ballistic missile system really keep all of its territory safe? Not exactly. 

The maximum defense range of the US-made THAAD is around 200 kilometers, and this won't even cover South Korea's capital Seoul. And why does China oppose the deployment? Well, this lies in the detection sphere of the THAAD's radar. The system's radar can monitor areas within one thousand kilometers. This means neighboring countries like China and the DPRK could be closely watched by the US if the missile system is installed. The system's scope is seen as much more than the so-called "defense needs" of South Korea.