Washington and Seoul have begun deploying a controversial US missile shield on South Korean soil, in a move that has outraged China and raised tensions in a region put on edge by North Korean belligerence.
The US and South Korea had been planning to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (Thaad) system by the end of the year, but they said that installation had started on Monday after North Korea fired four ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan.
“Continued provocative actions by North Korea, to include yesterday’s launch of multiple missiles, only confirm the prudence of our alliance decision last year to deploy Thaad to South Korea,” said Admiral Harry Harris, head of the US Pacific Command, after the commencement of installation was announced.