[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu Reporter] The US Forces Korea conducted a transport operation at the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) base in Seongju, Gyeongbuk, in the early morning of the 29th. The Ministry of National Defense is reported to have sought prior understanding from China regarding this. It appears that this was done with awareness of concerns that the THAAD base transport operation, occurring amid escalating US-China tensions over issues such as the Hong Kong National Security Law, might negatively affect Korea-China relations. However, controversy follows, suggesting that the US Forces Korea may have used equipment replacement as a surface reason to upgrade THAAD’s capabilities.
A Ministry of National Defense official stated at a briefing that "the transport operation conducted from the night of the 28th to the morning of the 29th was for replacing some aging THAAD equipment, and prior explanations were given to China to seek understanding." Currently, China is known not to have shown significant opposition or negative reactions regarding this transport. The military and related circles believe this is because the introduction of new launchers was excluded.
The Ministry of National Defense announced, "At the THAAD base in Seongju, Gyeongbuk, interceptor missiles that had exceeded their operational period were replaced with the same type and quantity." The Ministry explained that the replaced equipment included aged generators, electronic devices for data collection, and some interceptor missiles that had exceeded their operational period.
The Ministry added that the transported items are unrelated to THAAD system performance upgrades. There was no additional missile launcher brought into the Seongju base or imported into the country. Regarding this transport operation, the official explained, "The primary purpose was to improve facilities because the living spaces for soldiers are poor and to replace aging equipment that had reached its expiration."
The US Forces Korea also stated regarding the transport operation at the THAAD base on the same day, "We periodically conduct land resupply of materials and support the missions of bases deployed in Korea," adding, "We are striving to maintain a high level of readiness and combined defense posture to defend Korea from any threats and adversaries."
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