Trailers carrying US THAAD missile defense equipment entered a deployment site in South Korea early Wednesday 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 police, the agency said.
Washington and Seoul say they 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 program.
The THAAD system is meant to intercept and destroy short and medium-range ballistic missiles during their final phase of flight.
Washington and Seoul agreed to early deployment of the missile defense system after talks earlier this month between the South’s acting president and visiting US Vice President Mike Pence.
China however is strongly opposed to deployment of the THAAD system.
Tensions on the Korean peninsula have soared in recent months as North Korea’s missile tests have brought ever-more bellicose warnings from US President Donald Trump’s administration.
The United States has deployed an aircraft carrier strike group led by the USS Carl Vinson to the western Pacific.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called Monday for “restraint” regarding North Korea in a telephone conversation with Trump.
US defense leaders and other top officials are to give a classified briefing on North Korea to all senators in an unusual meeting at the White House later Wednesday.
Source: AFP
