Military authorities in Korea and the U.S. made an official announcement on July 13 that the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD) will be deployed in Seongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, to cope with any nuclear weapons or missile threats from North Korea.

"Seongju in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province was put forward by the Korea-U.S. joint working group as the best possible site in which to deploy the THAAD system so as to maximize military efficiency and secure the locals' safety, as well as their health and the environment. The ministers and secretaries of defense of both nations have approved this," said the deputy minister during the briefing.

"This U.S. defense system can cover a wider range of territory, from half to two-thirds of the nation, and ensure the safety of the citizens living there, from the North's threats, when the system is operational in Seongju," said the deputy minister. Once deployed, the THAAD system would be an opportunity, "To strengthen defense capacities, to defend crucial facilities for a nation, such as nuclear power plants and oil storage facilities, as well as the military capacity to of the Korea-U.S. alliance," he said.

"The two top priorities for the Korea-U.S. joint working group were military efficiency and the safety of the residents. A meticulous process of reviews was implemented as part of the decision making process, including assessment comparisons, simulation analyses and on-site research," Yoo said. The deputy minister stressed that the authorities take national security and the people's safety as top priorities, more than anything else, and politely asked for support from the locals in and around Seongju and from across the nation.

By Wi Tack-whan, Chang Iou-chung
Korea.net Staff Writers
Photo: Ministry of National Defense
whan23@korea.kr