SEOUL, South Korea – The United States will deploy an advanced missile defense system in South Korea in eight to 10 months despite strong objections from China and Russia, a US military chief said Friday. Seoul and Washington agreed to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in the South after North Korea conducted a series of missile launches in the wake of its fourth nuclear test in January. Brooks also that that recent calls for South Korea to have its own nuclear arsenal to deter the North would seriously “complicate” the situation in the Asia-Pacific region, Yonhap news agency reported. South Korea in September announced a new location for deploying THAAD, after vocal protests from local residents near the original site over potential health and environmental hazards. Since Seoul and Washington announced the THAAD deployment was going ahead, North Korea has continued to conduct missile tests and carried out a fifth nuclear test on September 9./rgaRELATED STORIESDenuclearizing North Korea a ‘lost cause,’ US intel chief saysSouth Korea picks new site for US missile defense system

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer November 04, 2016 04:07 UTC