A series of aerial photos were released on Wednesday, showing the latest deployment progress of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in Seongju, South Korea.
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The first elements of the THAAD system arrived at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek , 70 kilometers south of Seoul, on March 6, launching the deployment process. It is reported that two mobile launchers of the US missile shield and other equipment were transported to the base by a US C-17 transport airplane on Monday night local time.
South Korean broadcaster KBS reported on Wednesday that the X-band radar, a core element of the THAAD system, will arrive in South Korea on Thursday. The AN/TPY-2 radar and those who will operate the THAAD battery from US troops are scheduled to make it to the Osan air base on Thursday morning.
It is reported that the radar will be transported to an unknown US Forces Korea (USFK) base, where the first pieces were also moved to.
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The South Korean military and the Lotte company formally signed a land swap deal on February 28 for the deployment of the US-backed anti-missile system.
Seoul and Washington had first picked the Seongsan anti-aircraft missile base in Seongju to deploy the anti-missile system. However, local residents had strongly protested against the decision due to potential health threats.
Therefore, the current site, which used to be a golf course belonging to the Lotte Group, had been selected to deploy the THAAD system in September 2016 for its more isolated location.
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The THAAD is a US Army anti-ballistic missile system which is designed to counter short, medium and intermediate range ballistic missiles. The South Korean military decided to deploy the system in the country to counter what it claimed to be threats from the DPRK.
China strongly opposed the THAAD deployment. At a press conference on the sidelines of the Two Sessions, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that South Korea should join China to build mutually beneficial relations, saying “the deployment of THAAD between the US and South Korea is the biggest issue affecting China-South Korea relations."
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