4 more THAAD launchers enter military base in S. Korea amid protests

CGTN

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Four more rocket launchers for the US-backed Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system were deployed on Thursday morning in Seongju, some 300 kilometers south of Seoul, amid local protests.

It marked that the deployment of the controversial defense system was completed, about 14 months after Seoul and Washington made the deal.

More than 900 Seongju residents have their heads shaved during a protest

Dozens of protesters were injured in clashes with police as demonstrators took to the streets of Seongju to oppose the deployment.

Local residents fear that the system would turn the town into a target for attacks from Pyongyang.

"We cannot accept THAAD under any conditions," Yonhap quoted a local official as saying.

Police were dispatched to the area near the deployment site.

The deployment process began in March when two mobile launchers of the US missile shield and other equipment were transported to the Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek by a US C-17 transport airplane.

China has been opposing the deployment of THAAD in South Korea.

"China strongly urges the US and South Korea to stop the THAAD deployment process immediately, remove all related equipment and pay more attention to the security interests and concerns of other countries, including China," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang on Wednesday.