US military begins deploying THAAD missile system in South Korea
The US military has begun deploying the US military's THAAD missile system in South Korea.
South Korea's Yonhap News Agency confirmed the deployment of this anti-missile system on Wednesday morning Korean Peninsula time.
The United States and South Korea had previously agreed to deploy the anti-missile system in South Korea to respond to threats from North Korea, according to Voice of America. China has reacted to the agreement by saying that the move could help destabilize the region.
Tensions between the United States and North Korea have increased, and on Sunday, President Trump ordered joint exercises with Japan in the waters off the Korean Peninsula.
Following the joint Japanese-American maneuvers in the waters of the Korean Peninsula, the Chinese President called on all parties to avoid escalating tensions.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called on the United States, Japan, and North Korea to avoid escalating tensions in a phone call with President Trump on Monday regarding North Korea.
The likelihood that North Korea will conduct another nuclear test or launch another ballistic missile under pressure from the international community and UN sanctions has increased.
According to Reuters, North Korea on Monday, May 24, in an angry response to joint US-Japanese drills in waters near North Korea, said sending ships to attack was "a very dangerous move by those who see preparations for a nuclear war."
The official newspaper of North Korea's ruling party also wrote in an article on Monday, "The United States should carefully examine the disastrous consequences of its military's provocative actions."
In a joint US-Japanese exercise that took place on Sunday, a US Navy strike group headed towards the Korean Peninsula, escorted by two Japanese destroyers.
US President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of the strike fleet to the waters of the Korean Peninsula amid tensions over North Korea's nuclear and ballistic tests.
Source: Voice of America
