Trailers carrying US THAAD missile defence equipment entered a deployment site in South Korea early today with tensions high over North Korea’s intentions. Yonhap news agency reported, arrival of the six trailers at the golf course location sparked clashes between locals and the police.
It said Washington and Seoul are deploying the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery to counter the threat from North Korea, which is pushing ahead with its ballistic missile programme despite multiple sets of UN sanctions.
The THAAD system is meant to intercept and destroy short and medium-range ballistic missiles during their final phase of flight. The North is also believed to be preparing for a sixth nuclear weapons test. Washington and Seoul agreed to early deployment of the missile defence system after talks earlier this month between the South’s acting president and visiting US Vice President Mike Pence.
