
A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor (right) is seen in Seongju, South Korea, April 26, 2017.
On Monday, the South Korean Defence Ministry announced that the US Forces Korea (USFK) will install four more Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defence launchers at its new southern base in Seongju, some 300km southeast of Seoul.
Two THAAD missile defence launchers are already deployed there. Four others are now waiting for deployment. A typical THAAD battery consists of six missile defence launchers and a radar.
“The remaining launchers will soon be tentatively deployed through South Korea-US consultations in order to counter North Korea’s advancing nuclear and missile threats,” the defense ministry said in a statement.
Meanwhile, reports appeared that North Korea is preparing for another intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch. A Seoul spy agency told South Korean media that the missile could be fired towards the Pacific. However, it was not able to provide a time frame for the ponetial launch.