ashington/ Seoul/ Pyongyang : The US military has begun deploying an anti-ballistic missile defence system to South Korea, following a string of missile tests by North Korea, the US Pacific Command said.
The announcement came after North Korea on Monday launched four missiles which it said was part of training for a strike on US bases in Japan. Three of the missiles came down provocatively close to Japan.
Deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system “contributes to a layered missile defence system and enhances the US-ROK Alliance’s defence against North Korean missile threats,” the Pacific Command on Monday said in a statement.
“North Korea’s accelerating program of nuclear weapons tests and ballistic missile launches constitute a threat to international peace and security, and are in violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions.”
South Korea and US agreed last year to install the THAAD system, which China has repeatedly denounced as a threat to its security.
The statement from the Pacific Command, which oversees US military operations in the Asia-Pacific, pointed out that the system is “a strictly defensive capability and it poses no threat to other countries in the region.”
US committed to Japan, S Korea
President Donald Trump on Tuesday affirmed US’s “ironclad commitment” to Japan and South Korea’s security following the latest missile test by North Korea.
Trump spoke over phone separately with the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean Acting President Hwang Kyo-Ahn, the White House said.
“He emphasised that his administration is taking steps to further enhance our ability to deter and defend against North Korea’s ballistic missiles using the full range of United States military capabilities,” the White House said.
Nuclear-armed North Korea’s launch of four missiles was a training exercise for a strike on US bases in Japan and supervised by leader Kim Jong-Un, Pyongyang’s state media said on Tuesday.
‘NK supreme leader supervised tests’
North Korea leader Kim Jong Un supervised the test launches of four missiles by an army unit tasked to strike US military bases in Japan, said the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Tuesday.
Kim learned in detail about the preparations for fire strike “while going round the ballistic rocket launching ground,” a report added.
“He appreciated that Hwasong artillery units of the Strategic Force are very good at organising and commanding fire strikes and strictly ensuring rapid and simultaneous fire strikes,” the report said.
AFP, PTI & IANS
