Politics
15:06, 04-Sep-2017
South Korea grants 'conditional' approval to THAAD environmental assessment
["other","Asia"]
Share
Copied
South Korea's Ministry of Environment has decided to grant "conditional" approval to a green audit on the site of the THAAD anti-missile shield, which could trigger construction work at the site and even see four more launchers deployed there, local media said Monday.
An unnamed ministry official was quoted as saying it reached that conclusion in a bid to allow residents to continue to monitor possible environmental impact on the THAAD site along with experts, though no specific environmental damages were identified in the study.
South Korea calls for THAAD to be put on hold for "environmental assessment". /AP Photo
South Korea calls for THAAD to be put on hold for "environmental assessment". /AP Photo
The small-scale green audit was launched late last year.
On April 26, two mobile launchers and other THAAD elements were transported to the former golf course in Seongju county, North Gyeongsang province, though the audit did not end.
Residents and green activists, who have blocked the entrance to the golf course, demanded a strategic green audit, which requires the withdrawal of the already deployed THAAD elements and evaluates whether to deploy the US missile shield.
Residents and green activists protest the THAAD deployment. /AP Photo
Residents and green activists protest the THAAD deployment. /AP Photo
South Korean President Moon Jae-in ordered a general environmental impact assessment, under which the THAAD elements already on-site would stay there and a final decision on whether to proceed with full deployment would be made after the assessment ends.
Moon also ordered the installation of four more THAAD launchers following the DPRK's test in July of what it said was an intercontinental ballistic missile.
1132km
Source(s): Xinhua News Agency