THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: US to speed up THAAD deployment in South Korea

A senior US official says Washington plans to speed up deployment of THAAD in South Korea as soon as possible to counter North Korean threats.

Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel testified at a congressional hearing on Tuesday, expressing concerns about North Korea's repeated missile launches and test to develop nuclear warheads to be mounted on missiles. He stressed the US policy of heightening its deterrence capability to defend South Korea and Japan.

The US government plans to deploy an advanced missile defense system of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense in South Korea by the end of next year.

China is opposed to the deployment of THAAD in South Korea, saying it would harm Beijing's security as the system could be used to spy on the activities of Chinese forces deep inside the country.

Russel told Congress that China shares concerns about North Korea's nuclear program and suggested that the planned THAAD deployment is not likely to affect the ongoing negotiations at the UNSC to impose more sanctions against the Korean Peninsula.

Source: NHK World