Exclusive: THAAD Returns to Seongju; Full Battery of 6 Launchers Redeployed

The THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) launchers that were removed from the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) base in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, in early March during the initial phase of the Iran war have all returned to the site, SBS has confirmed.

In the early hours of March 3, USFK removed all six launchers assigned to one THAAD battery from the base in Soseong-ri, Seongju-gun.

While two launchers and three launch vehicles were returned to Seongju on March 12 and 20, it was found that the core components of the THAAD system had been diverted to the Middle East, where the war was ongoing.

However, last month, as the United States and Iran were engaged in peace negotiations, the remaining four THAAD launchers were returned to the Seongju base.

Kang Hyun-wook, spokesperson for the Soseong-ri Comprehensive Situation Room in Seongju, stated, "The remaining four launchers were brought back to the Seongju base one by one throughout May," adding, "As seen in this war, it has been proven that any region with a THAAD radar becomes a potential target for attack at any time."

A high-ranking government official also told SBS, "The defense posture of the THAAD system at the Seongju base is no different from what it was before the Iran war."

In other words, a complete THAAD battery, consisting of six launchers, a radar, a fire control unit, and power generators, has been fully redeployed to the Seongju base.

Further details will be reported on SBS 8 News.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.