THAAD ‘operational’ in ROK amid protests

SEOUL SEOUL — — US US Forces Forces Korea Korea has has confirmed confirmed that that the the Terminal Terminal High High AltitudeAltitude Area Area DefenseDefense anti-missile anti-missile system system deployeddeployed last last weekweek in in the the southeasternsoutheastern RepublicRepublic of of Korea Korea is is “operational”.“operational”.

TheThe system system has has the the abilityability to “interceptto “intercept missiles” missiles” from fromthe the Democratic Democratic People’sPeople’s Republic Republicof of Korea Korea and and “defend “defend South South Korea”, Korea”, USFK USFK spokesmanspokesman RobRob Manning Manning said said on on Tuesday.Tuesday.

LastLast week,week, aboutabout 20 20 US US truckstrucks and and trailers trailers carried carried THAAD THAAD components, components, including including radar,radar, to to a a golf golf course course designateddesignated for for the the system system in in the the village village of of Soseong-ri Soseong-ri in in Seongju Seongju county, county, North North Gyeongsang Gyeongsang province. province.

The The installed installed components components includeinclude two two mobile mobile launchers launchers and and an an AN/TPY-2 AN/TPY-2 radar. radar. A A complete complete THAAD THAAD battery battery is is composed composed of of six six mobile mobile launchers,launchers, 48 48 interceptors, interceptors, radar radar and and the the fire fire and and control control unit. unit.

The The deployment deploymentof THAAD of in THAADthe Republicin the of RepublicKorea has of been Korea stronglyhas been opposed stronglyby nearby opposed countries,by nearby including countries, China including and China Russia, and as Russia,an element as an breakingelement breaking strategic strategicbalance in balancethe region.in the region.

In In Beijing, Beijing, a a Foreign MinistryForeign Ministry spokesman spokesman said saidthe partiesthe parties related related in in the the KoreanKorean Peninsula Peninsula nuclear nuclear issue issue shouldshould take take responsibility responsibility andand make make a a breakthrough breakthrough to to resume resume peace peace talks talksat an at earlyan early date. date. Geng Geng Shuang Shuangsaid at a said dailyat a pressdaily press briefing briefing on Tuesdayon Tuesday that that China China has has always always believed believed that that peaceful peaceful negotiation negotiation and and consultation consultation remain remain the the only only practical practicaland and feasible feasible approach approachto realizing to realizing denuclearization, denuclearization,peace peaceand stabilityand stabilityon the Koreanon the Korean Peninsula. Peninsula.

On On Monday, Monday, protesters protesters blocked blocked about about 30 30 ROKROK police police buses buses from from entering, entering, and and they they have have continued continued to to hold hold daily daily rallies rallies in in Soseong-ri.Soseong-ri. Three Three Buddhist Buddhist monks monks whose whose holy holy ground ground is is near near the the site,site, havehave started started a a hunger hunger strike. strike.

YONHAP VIA AP The US anti-missile system called the Terminal High Altitude Area Inside Defense is seen at Soseongri, Republic of Korea, on Tuesday.