US troops began delivering a missile defence system that has infuriated China to a deployment site in South Korea on Wednesday, amid heightened tensions over the North’s nuclear ambitions.
Washington is urging Beijing — Pyongyang’s sole major ally — to do more to rein it in, but the Asian giant has reacted with fury to the planned installation of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system.
The US and ally South Korea say its deployment, agreed last year, is intended to guard against missile threats from the nuclear-armed North. But China fears it will weaken its own ballistic capabilities and says it upsets the regional security balance.
TV footage showed large trailers in camouflage paint carrying what appeared to be missile-related equipment entering a former golf course in the southern county of Seongju on Wednesday morning.
Hundreds of residents — who are concerned over the potential environmental impact — protested angrily, some clashing with police. More than 10 were injured, including three who were hospitalised, activists said.
The missile defense system will be operational in the coming days, a top American admiral said. THAAD “will be operational in the coming days and able to better defend South Korea against the growing North Korean threat,” admiral Harry Harris said.
