The Washington Post reported that the United States were moving components of their THAAD high-altitude missile defense system from South Korea to the Middle East. The South Korean president was upset because this system is a cornerstone of national defense against North Korea.
The United States has not removed a missile defense system from South Korea, a US military official assured on Tuesday following reports that Washington had transferred some elements to the Middle East. Last month, The Washington Post reported that the United States were moving components of their advanced THAAD antimissile system from South Korea to the Middle East.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed his discontent with these reports, as the system is a key part of national defense against North Korea, which possesses nuclear weapons. Last month, a photo released by the Yonhap news agency showed THAAD battery elements being dismantled in Seongju county, 200 kilometers southeast of Seoul. However, the Commander of US forces in South Korea, Xavier Brunson, stated on Tuesday that Washington had not “transferred any THAAD system” out of the country.
(28,500 US troops are stationed in South Korea)
“The THAAD remains currently on the Korean peninsula,” emphasized Xavier Brunson during a Senate committee hearing in Washington. “We are sending munitions to (the Middle East), and they are currently awaiting transfer,” he also noted, without providing further details. The THAAD system is designed to destroy medium, intermediate, or short-range ballistic missiles in their final approach phase.
Its deployment in South Korea in 2017 sparked strong protests from neighboring China, which saw this system as a threat to its national security. The South Korean Ministry of Defense stated it is capable of handling threats from North Korea, even if the US relocates some of its military assets. According to available data, the United States has 28,500 military personnel in South Korea.
