(Reuters) – South Korea’s civil society groups gathered outside the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Korea (ROK) in Seoul on Wednesday to protest the unauthorized transportation of components of the United States Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system into the country.
Four mobile launchers were brought into the ROK in addition to two units that had been deployed as part of the THAAD system recently, which failed to be reported to President Moon Jae-in who took office on May 10.
Moon said it was “very shocking” as the THAAD transportation, which profoundly affects the fate of people and the country, was not made public.
The Korean public was also shocked by the unauthorized transportation.
A protester at the gathering said that the defense ministry lied to the people and the government as a result of its unreported transport of the launchers.
Also, some protesters believe that without government approval, THAAD will be denied by the people.
“THAAD is invalid in our country without the approval of the people and the government. It should be withdrawn and sent back to the US,” said a protester.
On Tuesday, President Moon ordered a thorough investigation into the unauthorized transportation.
According to the presidential Blue House’s investigation into military officers, working-level officials of the defense ministry included the four more launchers delivered to an unidentified US base in South Korea in the document, but those were omitted in the final version of the report to Chung Eui-yong, the top presidential national security adviser.
Senior presidential press secretary Yoon Young-chan said at a press conference Wednesday that the defense ministry intentionally omitted the report on the delivery of the four more THAAD launchers to the country, following a probe into several defense ministry officials.
THAAD is composed of six mobile launchers, 48 interceptors, the AN/TPY-2 radar and the fire and control unit.
