The US military installed four additional Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile system launchers to Seongju, Republic of Korea. The country's Defence Ministry announced the decision of the deployment on 4 September. Each launcher is equipped with eight missiles designed to shoot down short- and medium-range ballistic missiles.
THAAD deployment raises concerns over rumored health hazards due to the system's radar as well as the possibility of aggravating tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
211216-N-QI061-1222 NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. (December 16, 2021) An MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), assigned to Unmanned Patrol Squadron 19 (VUP-19), sits on the flight line at Naval Station Mayport, Florida, Dec. 16, 2021. VUP-19, the Navy’s first Triton squadron, will continue to maintain and operate the aircraft off the East Coast to further develop the concept of operations and refine tactics, techniques, and procedures. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nathan T. Beard/ Released)