U.S. Removes THAAD Launchers from South Korea for Middle East Deployment

Nearly a decade after the missile defence system was deployed in South Korea, the United States has begun removing launchers from the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) site in Seongju and redeploying them to the Middle East.

The system was installed in 2017 in the rural town of Seongju to counter potential missile attacks from North Korea. The deployment occurred early one morning when camouflaged trucks carrying THAAD equipment entered the area despite protests from local residents who said the system could make the village a target.

South Korea’s government at the time, supported by the United States, said THAAD would allow the detection and interception of North Korean missiles before they threatened South Korea or the approximately 28,500 U.S. troops stationed there. The deployment also drew criticism from China and Russia, which argued the system’s radar could affect their security.

Nine years later, U.S. media reports say parts of the THAAD system are being moved out of South Korea for deployment in the Middle East as Washington conducts military operations against Iran.

Footage circulating online shows all six THAAD launchers being removed from the U.S. base in Seongju for transfer to the Middle East. THAAD provides the highest-altitude interception capability in South Korea’s missile defence network, and its removal could weaken that layer of defence.

The redeployment has prompted debate in South Korea about the reliability of U.S. security guarantees.

President Lee Jae Myung said South Korea would still be able to deter threats from North Korea even if U.S. weapons are moved. “If asked whether that would seriously hinder our deterrence strategy against North Korea, I can say with certainty that it would not,” Lee was quoted as saying during a cabinet meeting.

Lee also noted that South Korea’s defence budget is among the largest globally and is estimated to be about 1.4 times larger than North Korea’s gross domestic product.

South Korea’s foreign minister Cho Hyun said the U.S. and South Korean militaries are also discussing the possible redeployment of some Patriot missile defense system units to the Middle East. South Korean media reported that some missile batteries could be moved to U.S. bases in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, although the reports remain unconfirmed.