0
On the 21st, some THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) launchers are redeployed at the U.S. military base in Seongju County, North Gyeongsang Province. The launchers, which had been transferred out of the Seongju base during the Middle East war, appear to have returned. / Yonhap

Six U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) launchers, which had been moved out of the Seongju base in North Gyeongsang Province during the U.S.–Iran war, have reportedly returned to the facility.

All six THAAD launchers have returned to the Seongju base, Yonhap News reported on the 21st. A single THAAD battery consists of an engagement control station, a radar system, and six launchers.

The THAAD launchers, which were moved out of the Seongju base last March, were reportedly transferred to Osan Air Base in Gyeonggi Province, a facility that frequently handles the takeoffs and landings of large U.S. military transport aircraft such as the C-5 and C-17. While some observers speculated the move was intended to deploy THAAD interceptor missiles to the Middle East, substantial weight was given to the argument that the THAAD system itself, including the launchers, had not been transferred abroad.

On April 21 (local time), USFK Commander General Xavier Brunson stated before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, "We have not moved any THAAD systems. THAAD remains on the Korean Peninsula," adding, "We are sending munitions and are on standby for that movement."

South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-back also stated during a press briefing with correspondents at the South Korean Embassy in Washington, D.C. on the 12 of last month (local time) that the relocation of the THAAD system deployed in Korea to the Middle East had not been discussed since the outbreak of the U.S.–Iran war.

Regarding the return of the THAAD launchers to the Seongju base, USFK stated, "For operational security reasons, we cannot comment on specific troop movements, capabilities, or operational matters," adding, "For matters concerning U.S. force deployment and readiness posture, please refer to Commander Brunson's congressional testimony."

                                                                                                              Lee Han-sol