S. Korean president says 'original' agreement was to deploy one THAAD launcher in 2017

SEOUL, June 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Thursday that only one rocket launcher was originally scheduled to be deployed in 2017 under the country's agreement with the United States to host its THAAD missile defense system. He noted the deployment had "mysteriously" accelerated.

In an interview with Reuters, the new South Korean leader said an additional five THAAD launchers were set to be deployed next year under what the British news agency called the "original agreement."

"But for some reason that I do not know, this entire THAAD process was accelerated," he was quoted as saying.

So far, two THAAD launchers have been deployed, with the remaining four launchers already delivered and stored here.

bdk@yna.co.kr
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