Close Range: South Korea to Place THAAD US Missile Defense System on Golf Course

Seoul on Friday confirmed a golf course in the southeastern part of the country had been chosen as the site for the US THAAD missile defense systems to counter the potential missile threat from Pyongyang.

TOKYO (Sputnik) – Seoul on Friday confirmed a golf course in the southeastern part of the country as the site for the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense systems set to counter the potential missile threat from Pyongyang, local media reported Friday, citing a Defense Ministry official.

In July, Seoul and Washington picked the Seongsan missile base in the city of Seongju to host the THAAD. However, the local residents and authorities have expressed opposition to the deployment.

According to the Yonhap news agency, early on Friday, Defense Minister Han Min-koo held a meeting with ruling and opposition party leaders to explain the decision to select a new site for the missile defense systems at the request of Seongju local government officials.

In July, South Korea and the United States announced that they had agreed to deploy the system in the Seongju County amid increased tensions on the peninsula over North Korea's nuclear and missile program.

The THAAD system is designed to intercept short, medium and intermediate ballistic missiles at the terminal incoming stage.