13 September, 2017
"We have chose to temporarily deploy the remaining launchers along with United States construction equipment and materials (.) to prepare for the heightened security situation in North Korea due to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats", the South Korean Defence Ministry said in a statement.
Moon also expressed regret over clashes between protesters and police that left dozens injured Thursday when the USA military added the four launchers to the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense System in rural Seongju.
Feature image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
The Soseong-ri residents say they do not have a political motive but are against the deployment of Thaad as their lives have been disrupted by the dozens of military helicopters, buses and trucks that travel through the small melon-farming town of 80 residents.
In a previous statement this week, Macron called on the European Union to tighten the sanctions against North Korea, in addition to the U.N. Security Council's response.
"We believe that sanctions and pressure are only half of the key to resolving the issue".
South Korea's defence ministry has said the deployment is necessary due to the imminent threat from North Korea, which has launched numerous missiles since South Korean President Moon Jae In took office in early May.
Mr Moon and Mr Abe agreed to co-operate on seeking tougher United Nations sanctions against North Korea and pledged to strengthen efforts to persuade Beijing and Moscow to cut off oil supplies to the North, said Mr Moon's press secretary.
In a phone call with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Wednesday, US president Donald Trump insisted that military action against North Korea was not his "first choice" and pushed for a diplomatic option.
Russian President Vladimir Putin told an economic forum Thursday that the United States could be playing into North Korea's hands by trying to ramp up pressure on Pyongyang.
South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon said his country expects its northern neighbor to test-fire the type of long-range missile created to deliver a nuclear warhead to far-off places such as the United States on Saturday, an important North Korean holiday.
Instead, Russia, along with China, has advocated a "freeze for freeze" plan, under which the United States and South Korea would stop major military exercises in exchange for North Korea halting its weapons programmes.
More than 30 people were hurt when about 8,000 police broke up a blockade near the site by about 300 villagers and members of civic groups opposed to the THAAD deployment, fire officials said.
The comment was made by Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang during a regular press briefing on Thursday, according to Reuters.
The THAAD system, created to shoot down short- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles, has always been a source of controversy.
Russian Federation has a land border with North Korea less than 20-km long.
