China demanded on Tuesday an immediate halt to a controversial US missile shield hours after Washington announced that the defence system was now operational in South Korea. Washington and Seoul agreed to the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery deployment in July in the wake of a string of North Korean missile tests. "We oppose the deployment of the THAAD system in (South Korea) and urge relevant sides to immediately stop the deployment. Further complicating matters, Trump stunned Seoul last week when he suggested South Korea should pay for the $1 billion THAAD system. "South Korea with THAAD helps communicate to the North that today is not a good day to attack.

Source: Egypt Independent May 02, 2017 10:07 UTC