Seoul says can deter threats from North if US weapons shifted to MideastA launch vehicle of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system at a US military base in Seongj, South KoreaSEOUL - South Korea said Wednesday it could deter threats from the North even if the United States relocated some of its military assets to the Middle East amid the war in Iran. Washington, Seoul's key security ally, stations about 28,500 troops and a range of air and missile defence systems in the South to help deter aggression from the nuclear‑armed North. The THAAD missile defence system is designed to intercept short, medium and intermediate‑range ballistic missiles using hit‑to‑kill technology. It was installed in South Korea in 2017, a move that sparked strong protests from China. "The government is opposing the USFK's withdrawal of some air defence weapons for its own military needs," he said on Tuesday.

Source: Bangkok Post March 11, 2026 14:52 UTC